§ 8. Mr. B. SMITHasked the Home Secretary whether he proposes to proceed with legislation for extending to workshops the procedure relating to overcrowding in factories?
§ Sir V. HENDERSONThis is a matter to be dealt with in the forthcoming Factories Bill.
§ Mr. SMITHCan the hon. and gallant Gentleman give us any approximate date when the Factories Bill is coming before the House, and can we have an assurance that workshops will be dealt with in the same Measure?
§ Sir V. HENDERSONI said the matter is one that will be dealt with. How it will be dealt with obviously I cannot say. I cannot forecast the legislation for next Session.
§ 9. Mr. B. SMITHasked the Home Secretary whether, seeing that factory inspectors are responsible for enforcing Section 116 of the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901, relating to particulars of work and wages, while trade board inspectors are responsible for enforcing compliance with awards of trade boards, and that inter-departmental action results from this dual administration, he will consider the question of amalgamating these duties so as to avoid overlapping and duplication of inspection?
§ Sir V. HENDERSONNo, Sir, I am not prepared to accept this suggestion. The duties of the Factory and Trade Board Inspectors are quite distinct and do not really overlap, and the industries covered do not coincide except to a limited extent. The bulk of the work under the Section occurs in industries such as cotton and wool, for which no trade boards have been established, and conversely there are a number of industries for which trade boards have been set up to which the Section does not apply.
§ Mr. SMITHIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that in fact interdepartmental action is taken, and will he see that this redundancy is done away with?
§ Sir V. HENDERSONI will look further into the matter.