§ *MR. TENNANT (Berwickshire)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the death of George Benton, which took place on 1st February at Messrs. Hooton's factory, Nottingham; and will he inquire whether this factory was erected before or after 1st January, 1896, and whether, in view of the nature of the accident, he will consider the advisability of applying the provisions of Section 9 of the Factory and Workshop Act, 1895, to all factories containing self-acting machines irrespective, of the date of the erection of such factories.
§ *MR. RITCHIEI have made inquiries about this accident, and find that the factory and the machine that caused the accident were erected long before 1896. The suggestion of the hon. Member was considered and found to be impracticable in 1895; and I do not think that the House would be likely to accept it new. Moreover, it would not, so far as I can see, have prevented the accident in 1033 question. Fencing will, however, be erected which should prevent the possibility of a similar accident in future from this particular machine.