HC Deb 06 March 1924 vol 170 cc1580-2
25. Mrs. WINTRINGHAM

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to a woman who was found with her clothes on fire at Vine Street Police Station on 15th February; what explanation can be given of the fact that this woman was left for two hours with means for setting herself on fire in her possession; and what are the arrangements for supervising the women in police cells?

Mr. HENDERSON

I have made inquiry into the facts and find that this prisoner had been searched in the usual way by the matron on duty at the police station, who did not find anything on her likely to do mischief. Drunken prisoners are visited every half-hour, and this woman had, in fact, been visited only a few minutes before she was found with the front of her blouse on fire. The cause of this has not been ascertained, and the prisoner refused to give any account of the matter. It is to be presumed that she had concealed some matches about her and set light to herself. I do not see how the search and supervision of women in police custody could be made so rigorous as to preclude any possibility of such an incident occurring.

Mrs. WINTRINGHAM

Would not the appointment of women police in this case have been useful?

PARTICULARS OF DEATHS FROM LEAD POISONING FOR THE YEAR 1922 IN THE POTTERY INDUSTRY.
Case No. Sex. Age. Duration of Employment. Process.
1 M 51 35 years … … … … … Glost placer
2 M 44 31 years … … … … … Dipper.
3 M 53 Over 20 years … … … … Glost placer.
4 M 44 Not worked since 1916 … … … Glost placer.
5 M 43 28 years … … … … … Glost placer.
6 M 58 29 years … … … … … Glost placer.
7 M 51 30 years … … … … … Dipper.
8 M 60 41 years … … … … … Glost placer.
9 M 60 46 years … … … … … Glost placer.
10 M 40 20 years … … … … … Dipper.
11 M 55 37 years … … … … … Glost placer.
12 M 61 Over 40 years … … … … Dipper.
13 M 44 31 years … … … … … Glost placer.
14 M 42 16 years … … … … … Glost placer.
15 F 55 7 years … … … … … Dipper.*
16 F 61 23 years … … … … … Aerographer.
17 F 46 Not worked since 1904 … … … Warecleaner.
* Died of cancer of the stomach accelerated by lead poisoning.

Viscountess ASTOR

Might I also ask if a trained police woman would not be far better than the ordinary matron?

Mr. HENDERSON

I think the Department has shown its sympathy with the appointment of women police, but I am not ready to go further than that.

Viscountess ASTOR

We want more than sympathy; we want deeds!

Mr. KIRKWOOD

That is a boomerang!