§ 63. Mr. THORNEasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can give the House any information in connection with the death 558 of Rees Thomas Davies, who fell down a lift shaft at the Tower, Blackpool; whether he can state the cause of the accident; and whether the safety regulations were observed?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd)I have obtained a report on this accident. It seems that the accident was due to the lift cage not being returned to the ground floor overnight. The deceased workman going on duty next morning opened the well gates on the ground floor and in the darkness stepped into the open hoist well. The lift was not provided with fully automatic interlocked gates. The premises are not under the Factory Acts, and there are no statutory regulations applicable.
§ Mr. THORNEWill the hon. Gentleman convey to his chief the advisability of issuing orders, if he has the power, to put these and similar lifts under the supervision of the Factory Acts' inspectors?
§ Mr. LLOYDThis building does not come under the Factory Acts, and my right hon. Friend, I am advised, is not able to do this, but my right hon. Friend has instructed the officials of the Home Office to inquire into the whole question of accidents in lifts, and we are getting special information from the insurance companies, the manufacturers of lifts and representatives of the building industry with regard to the whole question.