§ 82. Mr. CHARLES DUNCANasked whether his attention has been drawn to the lock-out of 400 spelter workers at Swansea: whether he is aware that these men work ninety-four hours, sixty-eight hours, and forty-eight hours per week in successive weeks at a dangerous and poisonous form of employment; whether he is aware that, since 1st July, 1907, no less than seventy-seven cases of lead poisoning have occurred, four of which proved fatal; whether he is aware that the long hours of labour spent in poisonous fumes is ruinous and fatal to the lives of these men; and whether, in view of these facts, he will have inquiry made with a view to using the good offices of the Board of Trade in effecting a settlement of the dispute and amelioration of the conditions of these workmen?
Mr. BUXTONI am aware of the dispute affecting 400 spelter workers referred to in the first part of the question, and also of the answer given in the House on 2nd December by my hon. Friend, the Under-Secretary for the Home Office, respecting the cases of lead poisoning in spelter works in South Wales; with regard to the latter part of the question, I am informed by the chief industrial commissioner that he is making inquiries into the present position of the dispute.