13. Mr. ROBINSONasked the Home Secretary what action is being taken to avoid dust in cotton card-rooms and provide efficient cleaning in the blowing room and proper maintenance of stripping and stripping dust removal plant and vacuum cleaning of machinery, floors, etc.?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONThe question of the effective removal of dust created during carding operations is at present the subject of investigation and experiment by a Committee representing employers, operatives and the Factory Department, which was set up after the Cotton Trade Conference in Manchester in May, 1924, and my right hon. Friend must await the findings of this Committee before deciding on any further action. Meanwhile very careful inspection is made of the stripping and stripping dust removal plant whenever the card rooms of cotton mills are visited, and any necessary action is taken by the inspector in any case where the plant is found to be defective.
§ Mr. MACKINDERDoes the inquiry refer to the stretching of wool cards?
§ Mr. MACKINDERI am speaking of the wool industry.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member had better put the question on the Paper.
14. Mr. ROBINSONasked the Home Secretary whether the Departmental Committee on the association of the occupation of the mule minder in the cotton trade with epithelioma has yet reported; and whether any action is proposed to minimise the incidence of this disease and protect the workers?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONThe Committee has not yet reported, but I am informed by the chairman that they hope to do so early in the New Year. As regards the latter part of the question, I cannot anticipate the Report, but any recommendations of the Committee will be taken into immediate consideration.