§ SIR C. W. DILKE (Gloucester, Forest of Dean)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that factory inspectors have expressed different opinions on the question whether the words "machine" and "machinery" in the Factory Acts include shuttles; and whether he will issue instructions that these words, properly interpreted, include shuttles; or, if not, whether he will undertake to provide for the matter by an Amendment to the Factories and Workshops Bill.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. H. H. ASQUITH,) Fife, E.It is the practice in cases where complaint is made, that shuttles are a source of danger to persons employed, to treat shuttles as coming within the terms of "machine" and "machinery," to take the proceedings which are appropriate to prevent the use of dangerous machinery. There have been nine prosecutions during the last 12 months for not providing shuttle guards, with convictions in each case. So far as we know there is no necessity for issuing any instructions in the matter.