§ 2. Mr. DAYasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any statistics that will show the number of factories in Great Britain: the number of factory inspectors employed; the number of factories that were inspected for the 12 months ended to the last convenient date; and the number of factories not inspected during the same period?
The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Lieut.-Colonel Sir Vivian Henderson)The figures for the year 1927, which are the latest available, are as follow:
Registered factories, 147,501; authorised staff of Inspectors (including those at headquarters), 206; factories visited, 114,520; and factories not visited, 32,981.
§ Mr. DAYCan the hon. and gallant Member say whether it is intended to increase the inspectorate, so that all the factories can be visited?
§ Sir V. HENDERSONA committee is at present sitting under my chairmanship with the object of seeing what increase in the inspectorate should be made.
§ Mr. DAYCan the hon. and gallant Member say when it is hoped that a decision will be arrived at, because many of these factories ought to be inspected?
§ Sir V. HENDERSONThe committee has not yet reached a stage when it would be possible to say when it will complete its work.