§ Mr. NAYLORasked the Home Secretary whether he can supply any further information as to the use of multigraph and similar printing machines in offices other than factories, and as to the extent to which such premises have been brought within the provisions of the Factory Acts?
§ Captain HACKINGAs the hon. Member was informed in reply to his question on this subject on the 5th March. 1925, my right hon. Friend is advised that the processes now in use for multi-graphing by machines set with type are forms of letterpress printing, and that any premises or room in which any such process is carried on regularly and to a substantial extent come within the definition of letterpress printing works which are expressly included in the Act. The factory inspectors were instructed to enforce the Act accordingly, and the reports which have been subsequently received show that, as a result of these instructions, the Act has been applied in 1937W a considerable number of cases, and no serious difficulty has been experienced. There are, of course, many office premises where the multigraphing process is carried on only intermittently and not to any substantial extent or where the machines in use do not employ type. Such cases, I am advised, would not come within the Act, but the hon. Member may be interested to know that the inspectors report that, where they have visited such premises, the conditions, generally speaking, have been found to be satisfactory.
Regulation. Prosecutions. Number of Persons Convicted. Proceedings Pending. Discharged etc. Number of Cases. Persons Involved. Sentenced to Imprisonment. Other Sentences. Number of Cases. Persons Involved. Persons. 19 4 4 4 — — — — 20 17 36 13 14 3 3 6 21 (1) Causing disaffection. 76 160 36 52 16 23 49 21 (1) Restricting supplies. 84 195 13 52 20 52 78 21 (2) 1 7 — 1 — — 6 28 4 4 — 4 — — — 32 1 4 — — 1 4 — 34 1 1 — 1 — — — Coal (Emergency) Directions. 96 100 1 60 8 4 36 Total 284 511 66 184 48 86 175