§ 9 and 10. Sir Walter Smilesasked the Minister of Labour (1) whether he will have a committee appointed to inquire into the reason for the abnormal amount of sick leave at the Nab Lane; premises at Blackburn;
(2) whether the Blackburn Employment Exchange at Nab Lane has been inspected by a medical officer at about 12 noon on a pay day, Thursday; if not, will he arrange to have such an inspection and report made?
§ Mr. E. BrownI have had inquiry made into the sick leave at Nab Lane, and find that over the last two years it compares favourably with that for the other men's premises in Blackburn and with the average for the division as a whole. In these circumstances there appears to be no justification for the suggested medical inspection of these premises.
§ Sir W. SmilesIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the matter is urgent, and that the atmosphere in that room sometimes resembles that of the Black Hole of Calcutta?
§ Mr. BrownI could not accept that description of conditions in a room which has four windows on three sides of it and two on the fourth side, making a total of 14 windows, each of which is hinged and with an opening of 4 ft. by 2 ft.