§ Mr. RAMSAY MACDONALDasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention had been called to the conviction of Messrs. Purex, Limited, at Brentford Court on the 20th instant, for failing to report several cases 789 of lead poisoning at their works; whether the articles produced by this firm are described as leadless; whether the process comes within the trades scheduled as dangerous under Section 79 of the Factory Act, 1901; and, if so, what steps he proposes to take to protect the workers employed at this factory?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Churchill)Yes, Sir; the prosecutions in question were undertaken under the direction of the Home Office. The article produced by the firm contains basic sulphate of lead, and is not, so far as the Department is aware, described by the firm as leadless, but it has been advertised by them as a non-poisonous substitute for white lead. The process of manufacture, which was only commenced by the firm two years ago, does not come under the trades certified to be dangerous under Section 79 of the Factory Act, but the Department are taking steps under the general powers given by the Act to secure that precautionary measures are observed, and the question of bringing the process under regulations will be considered at the first opportunity.