HC Deb 08 January 1894 vol 20 cc1029-30
MR. HANBURY (Preston)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether the Government factories at Waltham have hitherto been carried on subject to the provisions of the Explosives Act, or to inspections by one of the Home Office Inspectors; whether, at the time of the recent explosion at Waltham Factory, work was being carried on with the same conditions for securing freedom from explosion and safety to the lives of the workmen as are insisted upon in private factories; and whether the amount of powder, and the number of men allowed to work in any one compartment, were in excess of those permitted in private factories?

MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

By Section 97 of the Explosives Act the Government factories are specially exempted from its provisions. Nevertheless, the gunpowder factory at Waltham Abbey is always in close communication with the Chief Inspector under the Home Office, and it adopts all the improved arrangements introduced from time to time. The amount of powder and the number of men at work are governed by special Regulations peculiar to each factory, whether a Government factory or not.

MR. HANBURY

I do not quite understand the right hon. Gentleman. Is it a fact that the Government factories work under the same Rules and Regulations as those insisted upon in private factories?

MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

I have already said that the Government factories are specially exempted from the scope of the Explosives Act, but they carry on their business in close correspondence and communication with the Chief Inspector of Explosives. The inquiry which has been promised into the circumstances of the recent accident at Waltham will extend to the question whether any further precautions are necessary.

MR. HANBURY

But I have asked, as a matter of fact, whether the Government factories are carried on under the same Rules and Regulations as are insisted on in the case of private factories?

MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

I have already answered that question twice.

MR. HANBURY

I have a right to have this question answered. The right hon. Gentleman has told me two things: in the first place, that the Government factories are not bound by the Explosives Act; and, in the second, that they are in constant communication with the Government Inspector of Explosives. My question is a totally different one. It is whether, as a matter of fact, they do adopt the Rules and Regulations which the Government Inspector insists upon in the case of private factories?

MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

I will repeat what I have already said. The Government gunpowder factories are always in close communication with the Chief Inspector of the Home Office, and adopt all the improved arrangements introduced from time to time.

MR. HANBURY

I will repeat the question in another form to-morrow.