§ MR. WILKIE (Dundee)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the officers of the Factory Department have taken any samples of the air in underground bakehouses after long spells of work in these places; and whether assistant inspectors are forbidden to enter bakehouses where machinery is used.
§ MR. GLADSTONEAir samples are taken at the discretion of the inspectors, and no special instructions have been given as regards underground bakehouses. I am unable to say without further inquiry to what extent samples of air in these bakehouses have been taken by the inspectors, but I may perhaps remind the hon. Member that special provision with regard to the ventilation of underground bakehouses is made by the Factory Act, Section 101 of which prohibits the use of any underground bakehouse unless it has been certified by the district council to be suitable for the purpose as regards construction, light, ventilation, and in all other respects. As regards the last part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given by me, on the 18th February, † with regard to the new scheme of duties for factory inspectors' assistants in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Leicester.
† See (4) Debates, clxix., 551.