§ * SIR CHARLES DILKE (Gloucester, Forest of Dean)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his attention has been called to the statements with regard to accidents from hoists, made by Major Roe and the women factory inspectors, and contained in the Report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Factories recently laid before Parliament; whether a full Report on the subject of accidents from hoists was made by Mr. Tinker, Her Majesty's Inspector for Bolton, and published in the Chief Inspector's Report for the preceding year; and, whether, in view of these Reports in two successive years on the danger arising from improper fencing of hoists, he will issue instructions to Her Majesty's Inspectors of Factories as to the action which should be taken by them in reference to the matter.
§ * THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEY,) Lancashire, BlackpoolI have seen the statements alluded to, and it is true that attention was called by Mr. Tinker last year to certain safety arrangements for hoists. Hoists are required by the Act of 1878 to be securely fenced, and the matter is one which is constantly before the Inspectors, who should take action when necessary, and have in many cases been successful. The circumstances, however, vary so considerably, that I see great difficulty in insisting upon the general 1675 application of any particular system, or in issuing any more specific instructions to the Inspectors.