§ MR. ARTHUR HENDERSON (Durham, Barnard Castle)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can give the number of non-fatal accidents reported under the Factory and Workshops Act during 1907; and also the number for the corresponding period of 1906 and that for 1898, with the percentage of increase in each case.
I beg also to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can give the number of fatal accidents reported under the Factory and Workshops Act during 1907; also the number for the corresponding period of 1906 and that for 1898, with the percentage of increase in each case.
I beg further to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can give the total number of fatal accidents and the total number of nonfatal accidents reported under the Factory and Workshops Act during the ten years 1898 to 1907.
§ MR. GLADSTONEThe statistics of accidents for which the hon. Member asks will be found in the Annual Reports of the Chief Inspector of Factories, and in the preliminary Tables of accidents and cases of industrial poisoning just published. (Cd. 3925). As regards percentages, the number of fatal accidents has increased by 5½ per cent. as compared with the year 1906, and by 56 per cent. as compared with the year 1898. For non-fatal accidents the corresponding figures are 11 per cent. and 116 per cent. These increases are due partly to the 1026 increase in the number of persons employed in factories (about 100,000 a year), and to the extended use of machinery; and partly to closer inspection, and to the more complete reporting of accidents. This last cause affects very largely the returns of nonfatal accidents and also to some extent the returns of fatal accidents, the greatest increase in the latter class being in docks and buildings, where in the year 1898 the reporting even of fatal accidents was still far from complete. These increases are a matter of grave concern to me, and I shall soon be in a position to make a statement on the subject.
§ MR. ARTHUR HENDERSONMay I ask whether, in view of the alarming increase in the number of fatal and nonfatal accidents, the Government will consider the desirability of giving us an opportunity of discussing this matter? It is one on which we feel very strongly.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. ASQUITH,) Fifeshire, E.If the hon. Member will put down a Question, I will answer it on Monday.