§ Mr. CHIOZZA MONEYasked the Home Secretary how many factory inspectors of all grades are now employed; how many factories, workshops, etc., are under their inspection; and if the present staff is large enough to enable each work-place to be inspected every year?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Churchill)The authorised strength of the staff, including assistants, is 200; this was reduced in 1910 by the equivalent of four inspectors through vacancies and the lending to Committees of Inspectors' services. The 39 total number of works under inspection at the end of 1910 was 295,427 (besides docks, wharves, and quays), made up of 112,370 factories, 178,429 workshops, and 4,628 warehouses. 21,266 factories and 39,333 workshops were unvisited during 1910. The total number of effective visits (that is, excluding visits to works found closed) paid to factories was 163,708, or an average of 1.8 visits to each factory visited, and to workshops 219,623, or an average of 1.6 visits to each workshop visited.
§ Mr. CHIOZZA MONEYasked the Home Secretary if he has now made any inquiries as to the breaches of the Factory Act which have occurred at the establishment of Messrs. Ben Evans and Company, Limited, of Swansea, and is in a position to make a statement on the subject?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe inquiries are not yet completed, but I will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as the result is reported to me.