§ 44. Mr. GILBERTasked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to a recent inquest in Southwark on a case of anthrax and the jury's verdict thereon; if the deceased had been employed in a warehouse storing imported skins where no preventive regulations were carried out for this disease; and whether, in view of this case, he will consider as to issuing an order to compel all such warehouses to carry out the Regulations for the prevention of this disease amongst workers who are employed in handling all foreign skins in this country?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir John Baird)My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. I have received a letter from the Coroner and reports from the factory inspectors dealing with this case. The worker was employed in a building which was being temporarily used as a warehouse. The precautions recommended by the Home Office were not being observed in this building though they were observed in the main building belonging to the firm. The question of strengthening the measures taken for the prevention of anthrax in this and other trades has recently been under consideration by the Home Office, and it is proposed to bring the existing rules with regard to hides and skins up-to-date and to re-issue them as compulsory Regulations of general application to all premises which come under the Factory Acts.