§ 38. Mr. DINGLE FOOTasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that oxyacetylene apparatus is used in effecting repairs to ships while in wet dock; and whether, having regard to the danger of men being gassed when these processes are used in confined spaces, he will consider the desirability of making applicable to such cases the regulations which are now in force for such repairs when carried out in dry dock?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Douglas Hacking)The extension of the regulations to ship repairing in wet docks generally would require legislation, but I have no reason to think that ship repairing firms do not take similar precautions when using oxy-acetylene apparatus, whether the ships are in a wet or a dry dock. The Shipbuilding Employers' Federation are circularising their members as to the special dangers revealed by a recent fatality at Millwall and as to the precautions necessary. If, however, the hon. Member has any particular case in mind in which adequate precautions do not appear to have been taken and will send me particulars, I will have inquiries made.