§ MR. TENNANT (Berwickshire)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has yet ascertained the grounds upon which the General Electric Company had not registered their premises in Queen Victoria Street as a workshop; and whether he can state what action he proposes to take in the matter.
§ MR. RITCHIEThe company did not register the premises as a workshop because they considered that they were a warehouse only and not a workshop. There was one process carried on in part of the premises, viz., the putting together of the parts of an electric lamp holder, but I am advised that that cannot be regarded as a manufacturing process constituting the premises a workshop. In any case this question does not affect the duties of the company as regards means of escape from fire, and therefore I do not propose to take any steps in the matter.
§ MR. TENNANTHas the right hon. Gentleman satisfied himself that this process of putting together the parts of an electric lamp is not adapting the article for sale?
§ MR. RITCHIEThe matter has been carefully considered by the Home Office, and we have come to the conclusion that it was not a manufacturing process. I regret it, but I am afraid it is so.