§ Mr. WILLIAM THORNEasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that the roof of a brick kiln collapsed at Silverwood Pit, Rotherham, on Tuesday, 11th April, which caused the death of one man and seriously injured two others; how long the kiln has been built and how long it is since the roof of the kiln was re-lined; and if factory inspectors have any power to inspect brick kilns in brick fields?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Churchill)I have received a report from the factory inspector on the circumstances of this case. The kiln was built nine years ago, and the lining has been renewed or repaired from time to time when found necessary. The chamber, however, in which the accident occurred had not been re-lined, as it had not been thought to need it. Brick works are subject to the inspection of the factory inspectors, and the works in question were visited last September, but nothing calling for notice was observed in connection with the kilns. I should add that the accident occurred at night and not while work was going on; and that the persons killed and injured were trespassers who were using the kiln as a sleeping place. I am informed that if it had happened while work was going on any workmen who might have been in the chamber would in all probability have had warning—for example, by the dust and mortar falling—before the accident actually took place.