§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINOn behalf of the hon. Member for South Birmingham, Mr. J. POWELL WILLIAMS, I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to a recent case of death caused by the explosion of a gas cylinder at Fenchurch Street Station, and to the recommendation of the coroner's jury that gas cylinders should be subjected to a Government test, and should be stamped showing that they are capable of resisting the pressure of the gases which they contain; and whether he will take steps, in the interests of public safety and of a large and growing industry, to carry out the the recommendation of the jury?
§ MR. ASQUITHI have already answered a question upon this subject, and have received a report from an expert upon the matter. I intend to invite 1277 further expert inquiry. It is reported to me as most probable that the explosion was not due to an imperfectly welded cylinder, but was caused by the ignition of an explosive mixture which no cylinder would stand, however perfectly it had been tested. I will, however, request those who are to be consulted upon this question to inquire how far the Government test would be a safeguard, and I will carefully consider the suggestion thrown out by the hon. Member.