HC Deb 12 May 1898 vol 57 cc1054-6
SIR CHARLES DILKE (Gloucester, Forest of Dean)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with regard to the reporting of cases of necrosis, how it is that the cases of Plaistow, Maguire, Guest, and others, employed at Bryant and May's, have not been reported in accordance with the Special Rules for Lucifer Match Factories; and what has been the result of his further inquiries into the case of Lean?

MR. PICKERSGILL (Bethnal Green, S.W.)

I beg, at the same time, to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in accordance with his promise given on the 2nd instant, he has made further inquiry into the case of Cornelius Lean, lately employed at the match factory of Messrs. Bryant and May, who was poisoned by the yellow phosphorus used in the manufacture; whether he proposes to direct that proceedings shall be taken against the occupier of the factory and the factory doctor respectively for neglecting to give the notices required by Section 29 of the Factory Act, 1895; and whether it is intended to prosecute the factory doctor, under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, upon a charge of wilfully mis-stating the caues of death upon the medical certificate?

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir M. W. RIDLEY,) Lancashire, Blackpool

The inquiries which have been made reveal, I regret to say, systematic neglect on the part of this firm to comply with the obligations as to reporting cases of phosphorus poisoning. The case appears to me to be a very serious one, and I have given instructions for the prosecution of the occupiers. As regards the factory doctor, I cannot see sufficient ground for supposing that, as suggested by the honourable Member for Bethnal Green, he made a wilful mis-statement in the certificate as to the cause of death in the case of Lean. In previous cases, however, of phosphorus poisoning he appears to have committed a breach of the Factory Acts in not notifying the fact to the chief inspector; but as he notified them to the employer, and it seems possible that he was under a bonâ-fide belief that that was all that was required of him, I have decided not to take proceedings against him.

SIR CHARLES DILKE

Is any inquiry going to be held into the question of the use of yellow phosphorus? Can the former Committee be revived for the purpose of such an inquiry?

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT

It is desirable to have an inquiry into this question, but I have not quite decided what form it will take.

SIR CHARLES DILKE

Will the right honourable Gentleman consider the advisability of reviving the former Committee which sat four or five years ago?

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT

I have the matter in mind, but I am not yet able to make any announcement.