§ 73. Mr. A. SHORTasked the Home Secretary the wages paid to those employed in the department of a Tipton factory where an explosion recently took place resulting in the loss of many lives?
§ Mr. SHORTTI have no definite information on the subject at present, but the particulars will no doubt be brought out in the course of the investigation.
§ 74. Mr. SHORTasked the Home Secretary the number and ages of those employed in the department of the factory at which an explosion recently took place resulting in the loss of many lives?
§ Mr. SHORTTAccording to my present information, there were 23 girls employed in the shop on the day of the explosion and one man. Four of the girls were aged 13, 18 were between 14 and 16, and one was 16.
§ 75. Mr. SHORTasked the Home Secretary whether it is proposed to institute an inquiry into the recent explosion at Tipton, when 15 girls lost their lives and others were seriously injured?
§ 76. Mr. F. ROBERTSasked the Home Secretary whether it is proposed to institute an inquiry into the recent explosion at Tipton, when 15 girls lost their lives, and others were seriously injured?
§ Mr. SHORTTIn addition to the investigation which will take place at the coroner's inquest, and at which the Home Office will be represented, I have directed His Majesty's Chief Inspector of Explosives to make an inquiry into, and to report to me upon, the circumstances attending this explosion, as provided in Section 66 of the Explosives Act.
§ Mr. SHORTTIt is a preliminary inquiry by the Chief Inspector for the purposes of the Act, and for the moment I forget whether it is public or not. It will be absolutely in accordance with the Act of Parliament.
§ Mr. W. THORNEWill the right hon. Gentleman be prepared to make inquiries into the rates of pay these unfortunate girls were receiving, in consequence of the statement that appears in the Press this morning?
§ Mr. SHORTTYes, I will make those inquiries. I have information, but as I am not sure it is accurate, and as it is very deplorable, I will make inquiries.
§ Mr. J. E. DAVISONCan the right hon. Gentleman state whether periodic inspections have been made by the factory inspectors of this place?
§ Mr. SHORTTBefore it came into the hands of the present tenant, who was responsible for the explosion, it was used as a factory, and inspected as late as a month before he took it, i.e., last January, but as no licence was applied for we knew nothing about it being used for its present purpose, and therefore it was not inspected.
§ Mr. SHORTWill the right hon. Gentleman tell us later in the day whether this inquiry will be public, when he has had an opportunity of looking up the Act?
§ Mr. SHORTTPerhaps the hon. Member will look up the Act for himself.