§ SIR THOMAS DEWAR (Tower Hamlets, St. George's)To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will grant a Return showing the number of factories in each of the four London districts in the years 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890, and 1900, and indicating for each year the nature of the industries in each district.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Akers Douglas.) I am afraid the materials for such a Return are not in the possession of the Factory Department of the Home Office. As the hon. Member is aware, the London Inspection Districts include not only London but a very large area outside (at the present time they include Essex, Surrey, Sussex, Middle- 716 sex, Hertfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, and Oxfordshire); and as the boundaries of the districts have been much altered from time to time any figures that could be given would be of little value for comparative purposes. I shall be happy to refer the hon. Member, if he desires it, to such information as has been published from time to time in Parliamentary Returns upon the subject.