§ Mr. JOHN WARDasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can give the number of accidents occurring to workmen employed upon the new national harbour, Dover, during the whole period of its construction, giving the fatal accidents separately?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Gladstone)The following figures have been supplied 8 to me by the contractors through the Admiralty:—The number of non-fatal accidents from the commencement of the works in February, 1898, to the 1st of the present month was 2,690; of these, 1,001 involved no absence from work or absence for not more than one week, 1,115 involved absence for more than one week and less than four; 424 for more than four and less than 12, 109 for more than 12 and less than 26; leaving 41 in which the absence lasted more than 26 weeks. The number of deaths and fatal accidents that have occurred on the works is 36, of which 10 are stated not to have been accidents due to the nature of the work. The weekly average number employed during the whole period has been 1,017.
§ Mr. J. WARDCan the right hon. Gentleman account for the statement issued by the contractors on the day of the opening ceremony that there had been no fatal accidents?
§ Mr. GLADSTONEI have not seen that statement. I have given the answer supplied.
§ Mr. J. WARDIt was in consequence of that statement I put the Question.