§ 28. Mr. MANDERasked the Home Secretary if he will consider taking steps to obtain fuller information with regard to industrial activities of various kinds in factories throughout the country, such as works councils, pensions and benevolent schemes, co-partnership and profit-sharing, works magazines, suggestion schemes and proposals affecting welfare, and the human side of industry generally?
§ Mr. CLYNESThe matters referred to by the hon. Member fall, in the main, outside the scope of the Factory and other industrial Acts for which the Home Office is responsible. So far as these matters have to do with conditions in the factories affecting the safety, health or welfare of the workers, the inspectors keep in touch with what is being done, and I regret I do not see my way to undertake the collection of fuller information. The information could only be satisfactorily obtained through the factory inspectors, whose time is fully occupied with their important duties in connection with the administration of the Factory and other Acts, and I should not feel justified in asking them to devote to inquiries on these subjects time which ought to be given to their normal duties. I might add, as regards questions coming within the purview of the Factory Acts, that much information is already published in the Annual Reports of the Chief Inspector and other publications, and any definite suggestions for supplementing this information on matters within the sphere of the Department would always be carefully considered.
§ Mr. MANDERDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think that information on these subjects would be very useful to employers who are themselves working on voluntary lines, and that it would be 1462 worth while to take serious steps to procure the latest and most up-to-date information?
§ Mr. CLYNESI do not deny its usefulness, but the number and variety of subjects included in the hon. Member's question show that it would be difficult to obtain the information through one channel. I shall be happy, however, to discuss the details with the hon. Member.
§ Mr. L. SMITHDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think, having regard to the widespread interest which employers all over the country take in the extension of the present work of the Home Office in this direction, that it would be a needless waste of public money?