§ 55. Mr. THORNEasked the Home Secretary if he has received a report from the factory inspector in connection 1549 with the explosion that took place at the Mile End Cinema, Mile End Road, on Wednesday evening last; if he can state the number of people that were injured; if he is satisfied that the ventilating machinery was in proper working order; and what arrangements had been made for its examination owing to the long period that it had not been used?
§ Sir J. GILMOURNo part of this cinema comes within the Factory Acts except a basement containing a small motor generator, but I have received a report from the London County Council as licensing authority. This report shows that no explosion occurred, but that a panic was caused because some flakes of rust fell into the auditorium from the inside of a ventilating shaft. Six persons were taken to hospital but not detained. The ventilating machinery was in proper working order at the time. The statement in the last part of the question is based on a misapprehension. I am informed that the cinema has been in continuous operation for several years. It is periodically inspected by the county council, the last occasion being in January of this year.