HC Deb 20 February 1911 vol 21 cc1539-40
Mr. HUGH EDWARDS

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention had been called to the fact that the Oakeley Quarry Company, Festiniog, was recently fined for not fencing dangerous machinery, the prosecution following an accident which has permanently and totally disabled a workman; and whether, as the particular machinery had been in the quarry for several years, the quarries inspector had or had not called the attention of the company to their neglect to comply with the statutory regulations?

Mr. CHURCHILL

The prosecution was instituted by my direction on the recommendation of the inspector. No instructions in regard to the fencing of the saw which caused the accident had previously been given to the company by the inspector, who did not know that any such saw was in use, but the obligation on the company to comply with the requirement of the statute was not of course dependent on notice being given to them by the inspector.