§ MR. BROADHURSTI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been directed to the report of Dr.Tatham as to the serious number of accidents at docks and wharves causing deaths, and being far in excess of normal industrial accidents, being in fact more than double that of other occupations; what steps have been taken to inspect gear and working machinery on wharves and docks for the purpose of preventing accidents; and, whether a Return can be made, and laid upon the Table, of visits paid to wharves and docks, with name and time of visit, and place inspected.
§ * THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir M. WHITE RIDLEY,) Lancs, BlackpoolI have seen Dr. Tatham's figures, which are important and interesting, and show that dock labour is one of the most dangerous occupations. They relate, however, to the years 1890 to 1892. Since then the Factory and Workshops Act of 1895 has been passed, and under its powers the Factory Inspectors (who 351 have been increased in numbers) now inspect the gear and working machinery in docks and wharves in the same way as if these places were factories. I cannot give separate statistics of visits to docks and wharves, but the visits are very numerous.
§ SIR M. WHITE RIDLEYI cannot answer any question as to details.