§ 50. Mr. Morganasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the delay in dealing with trade applications under the new Factory Act, and that many of the forms which were supposed to be posted up in factories on 1st July have not yet been issued; and whether, in view of the embarrassment which this delay is causing to local factory inspectors and factory owners, he will arrange either to expedite the issue of the necessary applications or to postpone the operative date of the Act?
§ Sir S. HoarePractically all the forms have been sent for press and are either now obtainable from the Stationery Office, or will be very shortly. A circular to employers about the forms is being issued this week. I appreciate that in some cases employers will be unable to obtain immediately all the forms required for full compliance with the Act, and that various applications from particular trades for regulations modifying particular provisions have not yet been disposed of; but I do not think that this affords good grounds for postponing the operative date of the Act, which indeed I have no power to do except as regards some of the safety provisions. To secure the complete and smooth working of an Act of this magnitude is necessarily a gradual process, and I am sure the inspectorate will not press employers unreasonably where they have a good excuse for delay and are making every effort to comply as soon as possible.