§ MR. COGHILL (Newcastle-under-Lyme)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, with a view to prevent the great injury that is caused to operatives in various manufac- 1231 tures by the inhalation of the dust that arises from the processes in which they are engaged, he will be able this Session to introduce a short Bill for the amendment of "The Factory and Workshop Act, 1878," Section 3, with a view to secure the compulsory adoption in factories and workshops of the best known means of protecting the operatives from (lust and other impurities?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (MR MATTHEWS, Birmingham, E.)The whole subject of amending the Factory Acts, and this point among others—namely, whether effectual means can be devised for preventing injury from the inhalation of dust—has lately been engaging my attention, and I have a Bill in preparation. The state of public business is such that I cannot at present give a positive pledge that I shall introduce legislation on the subject during this Session, but I shall be very glad if I can find an opportunity of doing so.