§ 43. Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCKasked the Home Secretary in view of the large increase in the number of preventive accidents in factories and workshops during the year ending 1920, namely, 12,750 over the previous year, what stops he intends to take to reduce the number of such accidents; and, for this purpose, will he consider the question of employing additional factory inspectors?
§ Sir J. BAIRDThe increase to which my Noble Friend refers is the increase in the number of all reported accidents, not in the number of preventible accidents, which is a very different matter. It is doubtful, moreover, how far the increase in the number of reported accidents for 1920 represented an actual increase. The number reported for 1919 was surprisingly low, having regard to the trade activity of that year, and there was good reason to think, for the reasons explained in the Chief Inspector's Annual Report, that there had been great laxity in reporting accidents during that year.
The number of accidents fluctuates considerably from year to year according to trade activity and other circumstances, and an increase in one year may be followed by a corresponding or greater reduction the following year. This is what has actually happened in 1921. The rise of 12,000 odd in 1920 has been followed by a fall, due no doubt partly to trade depression, of over 46,000. I need only add that the Factory Department is not relaxing in any degree its efforts to improve the safety conditions in the factories, and I would refer my Noble Friend to the account given in the Chief Inspector's reports of the work which is being done in this direction.
§ Mr. T. GRIFFITHSIs it not a fact that an employer can be prosecuted and fined unless he report an accident that takes place in a factory or workshop?
§ Sir J. BAIRDI should like notice of such a question before answering authoritatively.