§ 18. Mr. REMERasked the Minister of Labour how many people were employed in the rayon and silk industries on 1st October, 1925, and how many on 1st October, 1929?
§ Miss BONDFIELDThe estimated number of insured persons, aged 16 to 64, classified as belonging to the silk and artificial silk industries in Great Britain was 73,480 at the end of June, 1929, as compared with 45,300 at the end of June, 1925. Corresponding figures for 1st October in each of these years are not available. The number of such persons recorded as unemployed was 6,435 at 23rd September, 1929, as compared with 3,285 at 21st September, 1925.
§ Mr. REMERWill the right hon. Lady consider the use of the word "rayon" instead of "artificial silk"?
§ Miss BONDFIELDI certainly will consider that point.
§ 40. Mr. KELLYasked the Home Secretary what action has been taken to improve the health conditions in the spinning rooms of artificial silk factories, particularly in the matter of eye injury and lung trouble; and has any prosecution taken place against firms in this industry during the last six months?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Clynes)The matter has continued to receive the close attention of the inspectorate and the further conference which I mentioned in my reply to my hon. Friend on the 25th July last was held last month. It was agreed that the remedy for the special trouble arising in the spinning rooms is to secure efficient ventilation, and the inspectors and occupiers are concentrating on this. In many cases improvements have been effected with beneficial results. The conditions in all these works will continue to receive close supervision.
One prosecution has taken place during the last six months, the offences being failure to ventilate the churns and failure to notify cases of poisoning by carbon bisulphide. Substantial penalties were imposed.
§ Mr. CLYNESI am not certain that it will be presented to the House, but I will consider the point.