§ Mr. MANDERasked the Home Secretary what steps have been taken to carry out the Report of the Ministry of Labour Committee on Domestic Service in 1923, with regard to the recommendation that every possible administrative action should be taken by the Home Office to urge upon competent local authorities the necessity for making by-laws under Section 85 of the Public Health Acts Amendment Act and, in the event of their continued failure to do so, that legislation should be promoted making the exercise of such powers compulsory; and that the by-laws made by local authorities under this Section should in all cases include provisions regulating the payment of booking fees and the publication of advertisements relating to vacant situations or persons requiring employment?
§ Mr. CLYNESThe Section referred to is an adoptive provision which I have no power to put in force except on application by a local authority; neither have I any power to compel a local authority which has adopted it to make by-laws under it. I have no reason to suppose that local authorities generally are not aware of their powers, and it is difficult to see what further action can be taken without legislation. As regards the question of legislation, I would refer to the answer which I gave on 6th February.