§ MR. DIXON-HARTLAND (Middlesex, Uxbridge)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that, although the Factory and Workshops Act, 1891, came into operation on the 1st January last, the majority of factory proprietors and owners in London and the country are unaware of its existence; whether any steps will be taken, and when, to enforce the provision of means of escape in case of fire, as required by Section 7 of the Act (Clause 2); and whether, in view of the terrible loss of life through fire at Battersea, Fulham, Victoria, and this week at Scott's in the Haymarket, he will consider the advisability of making compulsory the providing of fire escapes of a simple yet safe nature at all hotels, restaurants, and other places where a large number of persons are employed?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. MATTHEWS,) Birmingham, E.I cannot accept the statement that the majority of factory proprietors are unaware of the existence of the Factory and Workshops Act of last year. Abstracts of the Act were forwarded to every known occupier of a factory in the United Kingdom. In addition to this, the attention of every occupier was specially called to the chief alterations in the law by a circular letter signed by the Chief Inspector, and this circular was sent with each abstract. I may assure my hon. Friend that every care is and will be taken to secure the observance by factory occupiers of the provisions of Section 7 of the recent Act. I have already twice this Session answered the particular suggestion made in the third paragraph of the question.
§ MR. DIXON-HARTLANDIs there any reason why a short amending Act should not be introduced? It is an important matter?
§ MR. MATTHEWSI have no further answer.