HC Deb 21 March 1912 vol 35 cc2065-6
Mr. RAMSAY MACDONALD

asked the the Home Secretary whether in view of the number of factories and workshops not visited by any inspector during 1911, he can give the percentage of official time devoted by the inspecting staff to clerical work in that year and also in 1909 and 1910?

Mr. McKENNA

It is estimated that the percentage in 1911 was 27.4; in 1910, 29; in 1909, 29.2.

Mr. RAMSAY MACDONALD

asked the Home Secretary whether assistant-inspectors of factories are prohibited from entering factory premises after the ordinary period of employment and during other illegal hours for the purpose of checking employment; whether this prohibition applies to places observed to be lit up at night-time and also to factories adjacent to workshops occupied by the same occupier; and whether he proposes to modify the instructions in the direction of more frequent inspection by conceding powers of entry and inspection to all qualified officers irrespective of rank or title?

Mr. McKENNA

As the hon. Member is aware, the duty for which factory inspectors' assistants are primarily appointed is the inspection of workshops, but the senior assistants who have shown themselves qualified for more responsible work are assigned, in addition, special duties in connection with the inspection of factories, docks, etc., one of which is the detection of illegal employment. It is not possible to enlarge the duties of the assistants in order to secure more frequent inspection of factories without sacrificing to a corresponding extent the inspection of workshops, and the inspection of workshops is, as my answer to the hon. Member the other day showed, already in arrears. The question whether the assistants could be further employed in the detection of illegal employment in factories will be considered in connection with any future increase of staff; but any proposal for this purpose must be carefully worked out so as to avoid the loss of time and overlapping which would result from casual and unorganised visits.