HC Deb 17 April 1928 vol 216 cc137-8

The following Amendment stood on the Order Paper in the name of Mr. HARDIE:

In page 3, line 41, at the end, to insert the words: (c) prohibiting the sale or use of petroleum spirit so dangerous or injurious to health that precautions for the protection of persons employed or engaged in handling or using such petroleum spirit are impracticable.

Mr. HARDIE

This Amendment, which I desire to move, deals with the question of tetra-ethyl. That may seem coming back to an old cry, but they say that the price of safety is that you are continually fighting for it. The handling of this spirit is not so well known in this country as it is in America, and dealing with certain technical reports from the medical side, dealing with workers employed in places where they make and handle it, there are some quite serious cases that have been brought before the two bodies that have reported. What I am moving this Amendment for is to get the power necessary to deal with any form of control where that—

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

I think I can save the hon. Member's time if I say that I will accept his Amendment if he will agree to the insertion of the words "which he may by order declare to be," so that it will read: (c) prohibiting the sale or use of petroleum spirit which he may by order declare to be so dangerous, and so on. The House will understand that I am not admitting, nor would the hon. Member desire me to admit that there is in fact a spirit known to be so injurious. I would only say that we know of a particular spirit which is at the moment the subject of inquiry, and if, after that inquiry—it is purely hypothetical—the Secretary of State should declare that particular spirit to be injurious, then the hon. Member's Amendment would usefully come in.

Mr. HARDIE

I beg to move, in page 3, line 41, at the end, to insert the words: (c) prohibiting the sale or use of petroleum spirit which he may by Order declare to be so dangerous or injurious to health that precautions for the protection of persons employed or engaged in handling or using such petroleum spirit are impracticable.

Mr. T. WILLIAMS

I beg to second the Amendment.

Amendment agreed to.