§ MR. J. DEVLINI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the Resolution passed by the Irish Trades Council, reiterating their demand for more effective and systematic inspection of workshops and factories in respect of ventilation and sanitation, particularly in the clothing and textile trades; whether ho has any official information showing that the condition of some of the factories in Belfast is very bad, and that the sanitary authorities are neglecting their duties; whether he is aware that many of the girls complain of 855 the bad air, and that the death rate from consumption of the workers is very high; and what action ho proposes to take in the matter.
§ *MR. GLADSTONEI have received no resolution on the subject from the Irish Trades Union Congress, nor have I any official information that the sanitary authorities in Belfast are neglecting their duties. With regard to the last part of the Question, I have already stated in reply to a previous Question of the hon. Member that the conditions in the flax and linen factories of Belfast were recently made the subject of a special inquiry, and new regulations have been issued which should lead to a considerable improvement in the ventilation and generally in the conditions under which work is carried on.