§ MR. GEOFFREY DRAGE (Derby)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his attention has been called to the increase in the accidents reported as occurring during the last twelve months to factory operatives; whether any cause can be assigned for such increase; and, whether he will consider the desirability of utilising the special knowledge of the inspector's assistants, now chiefly, if not entirely, employed in workshops, for the inspection of factories also?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir M. W. RIDLEY,) Lancashire, BlackpoolMy attention has been called to the increase of reported accidents in 1894 as compared with 1893. There is reason to believe that the increase of reports made is due in large measure to increased activity and vigilance on the part of the Inspectors, and not wholly to increase in the actual number of accidents. The number for the year 1893 is substantially smaller than the figures for the preceding and the following year. This seems to point in part to an accidental fluctuation. The Factory Act of last Session contains numerous provisions intended to prevent danger from accidents, and when that Act comes into force we may fairly hope for some diminution in the number of accidents. The inspectors' assistants are fully occupied with their special duties in workshops; they were not selected as being qualified for the more difficult work of factory inspection, and nothing would be gained by transferring them to it. ["Hear, hear!"]
§ MR. T. J. HEALY (Wexford, N.),asked whether the right hon. Gentleman could say whether he intended to bring in a Bill to amend the Employers' Liability Act, next Session?
§ Sin M. W. RIDLEYThat is a matter scarcely connected with the question. ["Hear, hear!"]