HC Deb 21 February 1924 vol 169 cc1984-5
66. Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCK

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention has been drawn to the explosion and fire at Erith on Monday, 18th February, in which 11 girls and one man, engaged in breaking down Verey cartridges, were trapped in a wooden and galvanised iron shed and were burned to death; whether this workshop complied with all the regulations of the Factory and Workshop Act; when it had been last inspected; and whether, in view of the somewhat similar explosion at Dudley in March of last year, he will institute an increased inspection of such highly dangerous works?

Mr. DAVIES

There are no Regulations under the Factory and Workshop Acts which deal with explosives. The workshop was last inspected by the factory inspector in August, 1923, but at that time the processes referred to were not being carried on, nor was the shed where the explosion occurred in use as a workshop. As I stated in reply to the hon. Member for Dartford yesterday, the factory, being under the control of a Government Department, does not come within the jurisdiction of the Explosives Act.

Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCK

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that if this very dangerous work had been carried on under the Explosives Act Regulations not more than three people would have been employed in any one shed, and why was this dangerous work exempted from the operation of the Explosives Acts?

Mr. DAVIES

As this is rather a technical question, I would like to have notice.

Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCK

Is the hon. Gentleman in a position to say that this work in the future will be carried on under proper regulations, or else that the 10,000 cartridges that still remain will be tipped into the sea?

Mr. MILLS

In view of what has happened, will the Home Office make exhaustive inquiries into the conditions under which contracts such as these are given to firms with no previous experience?

Mr. DAVIES

I ought to say that, as soon as the report on the inquest is received, we are going to consider the question of a proper inquiry into the whole matter.

Lieut.-Colonel FREMANTLE

In this promised inquiry will the Under-Secretary consider the advisability of bringing the system of factory inspection in touch with the local sanitary administration?