§ MR. MITCHELL-THOMSONTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he can state what is the number of factories and workshops in the United Kingdom employing five persons or under; and what is the total number 719 of persons employed in such factories and workshops.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) A calculation was made in respect of the years 1898–9, for the purposes of the inquiry of the Departmental Committee on Workmen's Compensation, with the result that' the number of factories employing five hands or less was estimated to be 36,000, out of a total of 95,000. A similar investigation in regard to workshops in respect of the year 1896 showed 50,000 workshops employing five hands or less, out of a total of 81,000 in respect of which Returns were received.