§ 40. Mr. A. SHORTasked the Home Secretary whether it is proposed to hold an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the recent explosion at Tipton?
§ Sir J. BAIRDYes, Sir. My right hon. Friend has decided to order a formal investigation under Section 66 of the Explosives Act, 1875.
§ Sir J. BAIRDI cannot give that information now.
§ Sir J. BAIRDThere will be no delay. The decision will be carried into effect at the earliest possible moment.
§ 42. Mr. G. THORNEasked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the, disastrous explosion which recently took place near Dudley, he is satisfied that adequate precautions are being taken against the risks of explosion in other places where similar operations are being carried on?
§ Sir J. BAIRDInquiries are being made as to the destination of the ammunition disposed of by the Disposal Board for the purpose of being broken up. These inquiries are not yet quite, complete, but according to the information at present before me, the operations are being carried on in all other cases under Home Office licence and in accordance with the Home Office requirements.
§ Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCKWhy was it that the Home Office remained unaware of the existence of this factory?
§ Sir J. BAIRDIt was not reported. So far as we know, it is the only case of the kind. It was not reported to us that the ammunition had been disposed of to these people. We are taking steps to ensure that a similar event will not occur in future.
§ Mr. WATERSONWould it not be better for the Government to break up its own ammunition instead of leaving the work to private speculators?
§ Mr. T. GRIFFITHSIs it not the duty of the Disposal Board to ascertain where they send ammunition and to report accordingly?
§ Sir J. BAIRDThat question ought to be addressed to the Treasury which has control of the Disposal Board, and the same remark applies to the question of the hon. Member for Kettering (Mr. Waterson).
§ Mr. T. GRIFFITHSWill the hon. Gentleman make representations on the matter?
§ Sir J. BAIRDCertainly. We are taking every possible step to investigate this horrible disaster, and to prevent the recurrence of such an event.