§ MR. FULLER (Wiltshire, Westbury)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the alleged insanitary condition of certain cheaper kinds of flock used in the manufacture of cheap mattresses; if so, whether he proposes to take any steps, by initiating legislation or otherwise, to mitigate this alleged evil.
§ *THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. AKERS-DOUGLAS, Kent, St. Augustine's)My attention has been drawn to this question, and reports have been received from the district inspectors of factories, which are now under consideration. The reports go to show that the general conditions of employment in this industry have improved in recent years, though the conditions are still far from satisfactory in many cases. The Home Office is only concerned with the matter in so far as the health of the workers engaged in the industry may be affected, and I shall be prepared to make use of the powers which are given me by the Factory Act for the protection of the workers in places where insanitary conditions prevail. Any measures, however, which may be required for preventing the spread of infection generally would be a subject for the consideration 312 of the Departments concerned with the public health.
§ MR. FULLERWill the right hon. Gentleman initiate the fresh legislation which he declares to be necessary?
§ *MR. AKERS-DOUGLASI do not think I said it was necessary, but that the subject was one for the Departments charged with the duty of looking after the public health.