§ 55. Mr. Thorneasked the Home Secretary whether he can give any information in connection with the death of a 1450 widow who had been working at the Cape Asbestos Company, Barking, from asbestosis which was the subject of an inquest held at Ilford Town Hall, on Wednesday last; whether he is aware that this is the second woman's death within three weeks from asbestos dust; and when the masks will be made compulsory at the works?
§ Mr. LloydIn the case referred to by the hon. Member, the deceased woman left work in 1924. She was formerly employed in a process for which, since the special Regulations of 1931 came into force, efficient exhaust ventilation has been required. Breathing apparatus or aproved respirators are required by the Regulations to be provided and worn in certain specified processes for which localised exhaust ventilation is impracticable, and I understand that some 300 of the Mark IV type dust respirator approved by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research are in use in this factory.
§ Mr. ThorneDoes the Under-Secretary know that in many cases these people would rather wear silk handkerchiefs round their mouths than wear respirators to keep the dust out?