§ Lord HENRY CAVENDISH-BENTINCKasked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the probability that the explosion at Messrs. Bibby's works 415 was caused by dust, and, further, whether in view of the fact that the powers of His Majesty's inspectors with regard to the regulation of dust are limited to that of a nature injurious to health, he will introduce a Bill to give His Majesty's inspectors the power to secure the proper disposal of all dust arising from the process of manufacture?
§ Mr. McKENNAIn addition to the powers given by Section 74 of the Factory Act for the prevention of dust injurious to health, Section 79 of the Act gives power, by means of regulations, to deal with dangerous processes of all kinds, whether the danger is to health or to life or limb. If, therefore, it is possible by means of regulations to prevent or diminish the danger of dust explosions, such regulations can be established without fresh legislation. The question of the conditions under which, and the classes of works in which, explosions of dust are liable to occur, and of the measures which should be taken to prevent them, is being investigated by my Department.