§ 21. Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCKasked the Home Secretary whether any factories are now engaged in breaking down cartridges or other war surplus pyrotechnics and explosives; and under what regulations?
Mr. HENDERSONMy direct information relates only to factories not under the control of a Department of Government. There are two such factories; they are both licensed under the Explosives Act, and regulated by the general provisions of the Act and the particular conditions attached to their respective licences. I have made inquiry of the Disposal Commission and three Service Departments, with the following result: The Disposal Commission inform me that the breaking down of pyrotechnics at Slades Green has for the present been stopped. There are two other factories where certain explosives are being broken down by labour employed direct 1578 by the Commission and under the supervision of technical officers of the Commission. No breaking down is done at any establishment under the control of the Air Ministry. Breaking down of cartridges and other explosives is carried out by the Admiralty at Royal Naval Armament Depots under special Admiralty regulations which are the result of long experience. The work is carried out under special precautions and under expert supervision. In the case of surplus explosives where breaking down might involve undue risk, the explosives are carried out to sea and dumped in deep water in selected places. The only War Department factory engaged in breaking down cartridges, etc., is Woolwich Arsenal. The work there is carried out under special War Office regulations which have been drawn up as a result of years of experience in explosives.
§ Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCKCan the right hon. Gentleman say how it was that this firm of Messrs. Gilberts, which was working for private profit, was exempted from the Explosives Act? Was it not the fact that the work could not be done at a profit except at very great risk to the workers' lives?
§ 32. Mr. MILLSasked the Home Secretary if his attention has been called to the findings of the coroner's jury in the matter of the Slades Green explosion; and whether, in view of the admissions made under examination by responsible officials, he will order a special inquiry into this disaster?
Mr. HENDERSONI expect to receive at an early date the full Report which is being prepared for me by the chief inspector of explosives and the inspector of factories who attended the inquest. As soon as it reaches my hands, I will most certainly consider whether a further inquiry of any kind would be likely to yield any additional information of value as to the exact cause of the accident or as to precautions to be taken in the future.
§ Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCKWill the right hon. Gentleman inquire of the chief inspector of explosives why 26 girls were crowded into this shed when only three ought to have been working 1579 there, owing to the dangerous nature of their employment?
§ Mr. MILLSIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the experts at the coroner's inquiry were of the opinion that the continuance of factories under the Disposal Board, evading the provisions of the Explosives Act, was illegal?
§ Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCKA scandal, the whole thing!
§ 59. Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCKasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the jury at the inquest on the Slades Green explosion recommended that all work of an explosive nature carried on by private firms should be under the Explosives Act; whether he will guarantee that this recommendation shall be carried out; and if he will grant an inquiry why the work carried on by the firm at Slades Green was exempted from the Explosives Act?
Mr. HENDERSONI have been asked to reply. The work carried on at this factory was exempted from the Explosives Act by the provisions of the Act itself, Section 97 of which expressly lays down that the Act shall not apply to any factory or explosive under the control of a Department of the Government. I will, however, confer with the Departments concerned with a view to seeing whether the recommendation appended by the jury to their verdict can be carried into effect at once by administrative action.
§ Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCKBut this factory was on private premises, was manufacturing for private profit, and was not under the control of the Government—that is the point!