§ MR. GERALD LODER (Brighton)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can state how many deaths attributable to lead poisoning occurred last year amongst boys under eighteen years of age; and whether he proposes to take any steps to prevent boys of that age from being employed in lead factories?
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir MATTHEW WHITE-RIDLEY,) Lancashire, N., BlackpoolThirty-seven cases of lead poisoning were reported last year as occurring in factories and workshops among boys under 18, two of which are known to have ended fatally. I am not prepared at present to make any statement as to the steps which will be taken in regard to the processes in which lead poisoning is most common, but the whole subject is engaging my earnest attention.