§ 34. Mr. JOWETTasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that on Wednesday, the 15th instant, a washbowl minder employed by Messrs. Campbell and Harrison, a branch of Woolcombers, Limited, of Bradford, contracted anthrax in the course of his employment and died of the said disease on the following Saturday, and that on the same day a washbowl feeder in the employment of Messrs. John Cure and Company, another branch of Woolcombers, Limited, contracted anthrax in the course of his employment, and he also died of the same disease; and whether he will say how many cases of anthrax have occurred among the employés of each of the two firms mentioned, respectively, during the period of years 1900 to 1913, inclusive, distinguishing between different years and fatal and non-fatal cases?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. McKenna)I have seen reports of the two cases mentioned, in both of which the disease was apparently contracted previously to, and developed during, the Easter holiday. The total figures for the two firms referred to for the period 1900 to 1913 are For the former firm, 18 fatal and 36 nonfatal cases; for the latter, 6 fatal and 14 non-fatal cases. I will circulate the yearly figures with the Votes. As my hon. Friend is aware, an inquiry is now being conducted by a Departmental Committee into the dangers from anthrax in the Bradford woollen industries and the working of the existing regulations.—[See Written Answers this date].