§ 15. Mr. ANDERSONasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department 150 whether he will give a Return of the number of cases of poisoning by fumes of tetra-chloride of ethaine which have occurred during the current year among workers employed in doping or varnishing the covers of aeroplanes, balloons, and similar work, and the number of these cases which have ended fatally; whether certain firms are employing a dope for this purpose which does not contain tetra-chloride of ethaine; and whether aeroplanes so treated have been found satisfactory?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Brace)According to the information supplied to the Home Office, nineteen non-fatal and four fatal cases of poisoning by dope containing tetrachlor-ethane have occurred during the current year. The inquiries in the latter part of my hon. Friend's question concern the Admiralty and War Office, and the Home Office is at present in communication with those Departments on the points in question; but I may say that adequate precautions are being enforced by the Factory Department in all works in which the process of doping is carried on.