HC Deb 16 February 1926 vol 191 cc1699-700
30. Lord HENRY CAVENDISH BENTINCK

asked the Secretary of State for War how many millions of the Verey light cartridges, some of which caused the explosion at Slade's Green on 18th February, 1924, when 13 girls were killed, still remain to be broken down; whether, as they are now being broken down at the same place, but in a Government factory, he is aware that the whole of these cartridges were condemned by the arbitrator during the recent case in reference to the explosion as unsafe to move, store, or handle without risk to life or property?

The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Ronald McNeill)

I have been asked to answer this question. As the result of a recent legal arbitration approximately 6¼ million Verey light cartridges were held by the arbitrator to be unsafe to store, handle or move. Of these approximately half a million have, since the date of the arbitration, been broken down by employés of the Surplus Stores Liquidation Department, under special regulations which have been approved by the Home Office. The accident referred to, which took place on the 18th February, 1924, occurred when breaking down was being carried out by a contractor, and under conditions which materially differ from the present system of breaking down. The alternative to breaking down the cartridges where they are stored would be to move them by lorry, put them on barges, and dump them at sea. This alternative would involve much greater risk of damage to life and property than breaking down on the spot under the present stringent regulations.

Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCK

Does the right hon. Gentleman consider this regulation adequate to safeguard the lives of the workers?

Mr. McNEILL

I have looked very closely into the matter as far as I could, and I see that the same expert who gave evidence before the arbitrator to the effect quoted in the question said that, if these regulations were followed, there ought to be no reasonable danger of accident.

Captain GEE

How is it they have 6,000,000 Verey light cartridges to destroy, and yet in the last six months of the War it was almost impossible to get them in France?

Mr. McNEILL

No, I cannot answer that question.