§ Mr. WALTER HAZELL (Leicester)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the report of an inquest, held in the Coroner's Court of the City of London, on 28th February, upon the death of Mr. C. T. Read, who was killed by the falling of a lift in Lloyd's Office on the 25th February; whether he observed that the jury recommended that the lifts should be fitted with automatic apparatus to prevent lifts from falling when similar accidents occur; and whether he is prepared to introduce Legislation to make the use of such apparatus (which is at present used widely and successfully) compulsory throughout the United Kingdom?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. H. H. ASQUITH,) Fife, E.The supervision and inspection of lifts and similar apparatus in offices and private houses is not, in my opinion, a duty which ought to be undertaken by the Central Government. It ought to be dealt with, if at all, by the Local Authorities. I will give ample consideration to any proposals which may be made, but the Government cannot themselves undertake Legislation on the subject.