§ MR. GEORGE ROBERTS (Norwich)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention has been directed to the number of drowning accidents which have recently occurred in the West Cheshire district due to the unprotected state in which disused clay and other pits are left; and whether he will consider the advisability of introducing legislation to so amend the provisions of The Quarry (Fencing) Act, 1887, as to empower local authorities to require that dangerous pits accessible to the public shall be properly fenced.
§ MR. GLADSTONEMy attention has been called to a recent case of drowning in a disused clay pit in West Cheshire. The Quarry (Fencing) Act provides for the fencing of dangerous quarries situate in open or unenclosed land within fifty yards of a public place, and gives power to a local authority to enforce the requirement. Some amendment of the provisions of the Act with a view to securing greater safety for the public is perhaps desirable, and the point has been noted for consideration in connection with the next amendment of he law relating to quarries.