§ Mr. ARTHUR HENDERSONasked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the many fires that have recently taken place in drapery establishments, involving loss of life to the shop assistants sleeping on the premises, he will take into consideration the desirability of taking early steps to put an end to the system of living-in, in view of the danger to the lives of the assistants who are compelled to sleep above such inflammable materials?
§ Mr. McKENNAI have no information to show that it is the case that many fires involving loss of life to shop assistants1756W sleeping on the premises have recently occurred in drapers' shops. I may point out, however, that living-in accommodation is in many cases provided elsewhere than on the shop premises, and, so far as the risk of fire is concerned, it seems a matter to be dealt with by the Regulations having a much wider application than the particular case of shop assistants. The question of the living-in system will be considered when the time comes for legislation on the whole question of Truck.