§ Mr. A. V. ALEXANDERasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that Albert Haydock, of View Road, Sheffield, was, on Thursday, 8th March, charged before the Sheffield Court with refusing to perform a prescribed task of work set for him by the Ecclesall Board of Guardians, and for neglecting to maintain his wife and family when there was opportunity to work; that the magistrates inflicted a fine of £5, or in default a month's imprisonment, and that Haydock has since surrendered to undergo the sentence; that the work which Haydock refused has been the subject of negotiations between the trade union and public bodies, including the Sheffield City Council, with a view to the best possible working conditions and rates of pay being maintained; that Haydock refused to work on the question of principle with regard to the conditions which at present apply: that, having refused the work, Haydock's Poor Law relief was stopped by the guardians and, owing to representations made by them to the Employment Exchange, his unemployment benefit was withdrawn, and that, under a decision of the Employment Exchange authorities, Haydock's unemployment benefit has since been restored, from which it would appear that his refusal to accept the work was entirely justified; and whether, in 2604W these circumstances, he will arrange for this man to be at once released and an inquiry ordered into the whole of the circumstances?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI am making inquiries in the case.