§ MR. JOHN WARDI beg to ask the-President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to an accident which happened on 3rd March, during the construction of the King's-Dock, Swansea, by which a train of muck waggons ran into a gang of navvies, killing two and injuring several others; whether, in view of the recent increase-in accidents of a similar character upon public works, he will order a Government inquiry under the Notice of Accidents Act, 1894, into the cause and circumstances of such accident; and, if so, when and where will such inquiry be held.
§ MR. LLOYD-GEORGEThe accident in question has been reported to the Factory Inspector under the provisions of the Factory and Workshops Acts, and is not one coming within the scope of the Notice of Accidents Act, 1894, as amended by subsequent Acts. I understand that an investigation of the circumstances attending the accident has already been made by the Factory Inspector.
§ MR. JOHN WARDDo I understand the right hon. Gentleman to say that docks do not come under the Notice of Accidents Act, 1894? Has his attention been drawn to the schedule in which docks are particularly mentioned as being still under the operation of that Act?
§ MR. LLOYD-GEORGEIt is very important that cases of this kind should not be inquired into by two Departments. I understand that the Home Office, under the later Act, have assumed the responsibility for that, and the Board of Trade therefore cannot interfere. Any further question should be addressed to the Home Secretary seeing that a Factory Inspector is inquiring into the matter already.