HC Deb 14 July 1898 vol 61 cc928-9
MR. DRAGE (Derby)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can give any statistics showing the effect of employment in the dangerous processes in potteries on the health of women and their children, as well as on the health of young persons?

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (SIR M. WHITE RIDLEY,) Lancs, Blackpool

I am not sure that I understand what kind of statistics the honourable Member has in his mind. There are many recorded instances which amply prove that in the pottery trade, as elsewhere, the occurrence of lead-poisoning in the mother is capable of producing grave effects upon the child. The total number of reported cases of lead poisoning among women and girls engaged in the manufacture of earthenware and china during the two and a half years since the Act of 1895 came into force is: women 528, girls 63—a yearly average of about 230. The number of females employed in Staffordshire is 20,705.

MR. DRAGE

I beg to ask the Secre of State for the Home Department whether he can give any statistics comparing the health of workpeople in potteries where mechanical ventilation has been introduced with the health of workpeople employed in potteries without mechanical ventilation?

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT

I am afraid I have no statistics of the kind, and it would be difficult to obtain them. The great improvement effected by the introduction of mechanical ventilation is sufficiently evident, and one of the points aimed at in the new rules I am taking steps to establish is the more general adoption of fans in all dusty processes in potteries.

MR. WOODALL (Hanley)

May I ask the right honourable Gentleman if he will consider the practicability of informing the House as to the proportion of cases in which lead poisoning has been certified by a medical practitioner whose report has afterwards been found by the certifying surgeon to be unfounded?

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT

Every information of that kind I am now endeavouring to obtain. It is a very difficult question, as the honourable Gentleman knows, but I will bear it in mind.