HC Deb 27 June 1904 vol 136 cc1236-40
SIR CHARLES DILKE (Gloucestershire, Forest of Dean)

I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is now aware that a private deputation from the employees of the Army Clothing Department, introduced to the then Secretary of State and † See (4) Debates cxxx, 1154 Financial Secretary by the Member for the Forest of Dean, brought to the knowledge of those officials and of the head of the Army Clothing Department eleven months ago, the subject of the ventilation of the pressing rooms at the Army Clothing Factory; whether a promise was then given that the ventilation should be attended to; whether since that time the matter has been again brought to the knowledge of himself by letters enclosing complaints as to the ventilation of at least two of the pressing rooms, and further assurances have been given to the effect that, while the matter has unfortunately not yet been dealt with, it is to be dealt with shortly.

The following Questions bearing on the same subject also appeared on the Paper:—

MR. THEODORE TAYLOR (Lancashire, Radcliffe)

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the death of Alice Wright, a tailoress, lately employed at the Army Clothing Factory at Pimlico, and to the evidence given at the inquest regarding the arrangements made in the pressing room affecting the health of the workers; and whether he will take early steps to secure that the condition of the workshop in question shall be made quite sanitary.

CAPTAIN NORTON (Newington, W.)

To ask the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the recent sudden death of a tailoress after working in the pressing room of the Army Clothing Factory, coupled with the failure of the Government to carry out in the said department the improved ventilation promised during the debate on the Army Clothing Vote last year, which promise it does not appear from the record of was renewed at a private deputation sub that deputation made at the War Office, sequently received by the Secretary of State for War and the Financial Secretary he will give the House an early opportunities of discussing the Army Clothing Vote.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. ARNOLD-FORSTER, Belfast, W.)

Perhaps I may be allowed to say a few words in explanation of an answer given in the name of my hon. friend the Finan- cial Secretary on Thursday last, and which the right hon. Gentleman the Member for the Forest of Dean has complained of as being incorrect and misleading. The fault, if there be one, lies with me. The Question, which was an unstarred one, was brought down to me at the House late on Thursday afternoon, and under the impression that the answer had been seen by the Financial Secretary, I passed it to the printers. My hon. friend informed me immediately he saw the answer that it was incorrect in one particular, that personal correspondence and interviews had taken place between himself and the right hon. Gentleman, of which I was quite unaware, hence I was led to convey an erroneous impression to the House, which I greatly regret. With regard to the subject matter of the right hon. Gentleman's Question, and of other Questions on the Paper to-day, I should like to say that I regard the matter as a very serious one, and well worthy of attention. Prior to the right hon. Gentleman's Question, I had already arranged to visit the Pimlico factory, and under the best guidance I could obtain to investigate the condition of things myself. I am not fully satisfied that the arrangements for improving the ventilation and accommodation have been carried out with sufficient rapidity, though I do not desire to form a definite opinion on this point until I have made full inquiry. I will reply at the same time to the Questions put by the hon. Members for West Newington and Lancashire, Radcliffe. My hon. friend is aware that a private deputation from the employees of the Army Clothing Department was introduced to the Secretary of State and Financial Secretary by the right hon. Gentleman on the 7th August, 1903, but it does not appear from the record of that deputation made at the War Office, or in the Journal called The Government Workers Advocate, which also had an account of the proceedings, that a complaint was made by the deputation with regard to ventilation, and no promise appears to have been asked for or given with regard to this matter. As a, matter of fact, however, there were defects in the ventilation, though not in the rooms particularly referred to. The Department concerned, acting on its own initiative, took measures some time ago with the object of remedying these defects, and electric fans were ordered, for which money was provided in the current year's Estimates. The installation is not yet complete, but it is hoped that it may be finished by the end of this month. The fans are to be placed in one of the top galleries. My hon. friend has recently received the letters from the right hon. Gentleman in which he refers to the question of ventilation, and he was informed in reply that the work was in progress, as I have already stated. There are about 000 girls working on the ground floor where Alice Wright herself worked, but the pressing room is a small room attached to the main building, and the girls only go there occasionally to press the garments. Many of the windows are made to open. I have not yet had time to examine the report of the evidence which reached the Office this morning, out I shall be happy to answer a further Question with respect to it, if necessary. I may repeat that I am very sensible of the importance of taking proper precautions for the health of those working in this and other Government factories, but I can assure the right hon. Gentleman that the matter has already been attended to, and that the officials of the Department are thoroughly alive to the necessity of doing all that is possible for the comfort of the workers.

* SIR CHARLES DILKE

It would not be in order for me to comment on the curious fact of the Answer having been given in the circumstances described; but by way of personal explanation may I be allowed to say, in reference to the right hon. Gentleman's statement that the note of the deputation does not show that the matter was specifically dealt with that in my own note it does appear that the matter was brought forward, and I think the noble Lord, now the Postmaster-General, but at that time Financial Secretary to the War Office, will remember that ventilation by fans was mentioned.

* MR. ARNOLD-FORSTER

I quite accept the right hon. Baronet's explanation. I have examined the official record and the trade record and I do not find the statement, and that is probably a justifi- cation for the answer being drawn in the way it was.