§ MR. BELL (Derby)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to a fatal accident which occurred on the 20th February to Albert Chapman, who was only seventeen years of age, and employed as a shunter on the London and North Western Railway at Whaley Bridge; and if he has seen a report of the inquest, and the jury's rider that the deceased was totally incompetent, through youth and inexperience, for the work allotted to him, and that his death was due to over-pressure of work; and whether he will take steps, by legislation or otherwise, to prevent lads being employed in such occupations.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. GERALD BALFOUR, Leeds, Central)In addition to the newspaper extract which the hon. Member has been good enough to send me, the Board of Trade have received telegraphic notice of the sad accident referred to, and also a copy of the verdict of the coroner's jury, but have no information as to the rider mentioned. I propose to order an inquiry to be held by an assistant inspecting officer into the circumstances attending the accident. Very grave consideration would be 1023 required before introducing legislation to deal with such a subject as that referred to in the last paragraph of the Question.