HC Deb 21 May 1928 vol 217 cc1512-3
53. Mr. PALIN

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can furnish the proportion of 84,177 work-places, not visited by factory inspectors during 1927, in which premises women or young persons were employed in shifts?

Sir V. HENDERSON

There were six such works unvisited during 1927.

54. Mr. TINKER

asked the Home Secretary the reasons why over 84,000 works on the registers of the Home Office we1e not visited by any factory inspector in 1927; and what steps, if any, are being taken to overtake these arrears?

Sir V. HENDERSON

The fact that so many places were not visited was due to shortage of staff. Special efforts are always made each year—and as early in the year as possible—to visit the works which have not been inspected in the previous year, but with the limited staff available it is necessary to concentrate on the more important works. On the question of increasing the staff I would refer the hon. Member to the reply to the question asked by the hon. Member for the Gorbals Division (Mr. Buchanan) on the 8th March last.

Mr. T. HENDERSON

Will the hon. and gallant Member give an undertaking that in the cases where his Department has granted these exceptional powers, a rigid inspection will be carried out?

Sir V. HENDERSON

Yes, that is already in force. I think there are some special reasons why these particular six firms referred to have been left uninspected.

Mr. KELLY

In view of the anxiety there is in the country as to the non-visitation of these factories, will the hon. and gallant Member make an application to this House so that we may get an increase in the staff in order to deal with this difficulty?

Sir V. HENDERSON

So far as the inspection of firms employing two shifts are concerned, I do not think it is necessary.

Mr. KELLY

I am not referring to the two-shift system only, but to effective inspection generally.

Sir V. HENDERSON

The hon. Member will remember that my right hon. Friend promised to set up a small departmental committee in the autumn to go into the whole of this question, but it is not possible to increase the inspectorate in this year's Estimates.

Captain CROOKSHANK

What does the hon. and gallant Member mean by "more important firms"? Does he mean larger firms?

Sir V. HENDERSON

I do not think I used the expression "more important firms."

Captain CROOKSHANK

Yes, it is in the first reply.