§ 70. Mr. SUGDENasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will circularise all industrial manufacturers giving details of the expert literature issued by his office bearing upon welfare supervision in factories and workshops, first-aid and ambulance at factories and workshops, mess rooms and canteens at small factories, ventilation of factories and workshops, Reports of the Industrial Fatigue Research Board, lighting in factories and workshops, protective clothing for women and girl workers, and women and children in industry, and issue instructions to his inspectors that they require all welfare workers in such workshops to peruse and consider such publications, and by examination and test afterwards apply such methods as are essential for the health of employés?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Shortt)A printed list of Home Office publications on factory questions is issued to every new occupier of a factory or workshop. It is also supplied to any occupier on application, and has a wide distribution. Further, the publications themselves are widely distributed among the employers' and workers' associations concerned and to the Press, and the inspectors take every opportunity at their inspections to bring them to the notice of the individual firms. I will consider, however, whether any further steps can be taken to extend their circulation. There is no power under the Acts to require welfare workers employed in factories to read these publications, but I have no doubt that they are largely read and acted on by these workers, many of whom are rendering zealous and valuable service.