§ *SIR CHARLES DILKE (Gloucestershire, Forest of Dean)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state whether the scheme of workmen's compensation in cases of lead poisoning communicated by the employers to the workers is a complete scheme intended to fulfil the promises made during the recent arbitration on the special rules, or if there are other portions of the scheme not made public; and will he state if the scheme extends to the whole potting trade in all parts of the United Kingdom.
§ *THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. RITCHIE, Croydon)I do not know what statement with regard to the scheme has been made public. I have received copies of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the company which pottery manufacturers have formed in connection with the scheme, and of its rules and regulations. These documents appear to me to contain a complete scheme for compensation to workpeople in potteries who may be suspended from work on account of lead poisoning. The scheme is of course voluntary on the part of the manufacturers; and there is no power to make it compulsory. But it is open to all pottery manufacturers to join, and more than a hundred firms, including nearly all the leading potters in North Staffordshire, have already become members. I think the best results may be expected from the action which the manufacturers have thus taken.
§ *SIR CHARLES DILKEWill the right hon. Gentleman lay the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the company before Parliament as a Parliamentary Paper?
§ *MR RITCHIEI am not sure that that would be a proper course, but I will consider it.