HC Deb 04 March 1912 vol 35 cc27-8
Mr. RAMSAY MACDONALD

asked what modification, if any, has been made in the organisation of the factory inspectorate in consequence of the Report of the Departmental Committee on Accidents in Factories; whether any change has taken place so that inspectors' assistants may, when their knowledge is adequate, inspect and report regarding accidents; and whether assistants now receive copies of the circulars hitherto exclusively issued to inspectors containing information of interest to assistants as well as to inspectors.

Mr. McKENNA

As regards the first paragraph of the question, I would refer to the statement on the subject which I made on the 14th December last, in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Barnard Castle. Since that statement was made, I have obtained the sanction of the Treasury for the appointment of two more assistants to the higher grade for the purpose of undertaking more responsible duties. The revision of the present system of nomination and examination in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee is in hand. The answer to the second paragraph of the question is that the selected assistants in the higher grade do report on accidents in the course of their inspection of docks and certain classes of factories; but the primary duty of the assistants is the inspection of workshops where accidents are few. The answer to the third paragraph is that it is proposed in future to circulate to the assistants the circulars issued periodically to the staff.

Mr. CHIOZZA MONEY

Will the right hon. Gentleman do every tiling he can to enlarge the opportunities of this very zealous and persistent inspectorate?

Mr. McKENNA

Yes. I think the answer I have given shows that something is being done.