HC Deb 13 March 1941 vol 369 cc1393-4
1. Mr. Ellis Smith

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been directed to pages 3, 4 and 5 of the Annual Report of the Chief Inspector of Factories; and what steps are being taken to deal with the problems dealt with in those pages?

The Minister of Labour (Mr. Ernest Bevin)

In these pages the Chief Inspector expresses the view that the increase in non-fatal accidents in 1939 as compared with 1938 was not greater than the increase in man-hours worked, and points out that an increase in accidents in war time must be expected owing to various causes, At the same time I wish to emphasise that, apart from personal loss and suffering, avoidable accidents are a bonus to the enemy by way of lost time and disorganisation of work, and I have, with the assistance of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, instituted a special Accident Prevention Campaign covering a large number of factories engaged on war production.

2. Mr. Smith

asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been directed to page 7 of the Annual Report of the Chief Inspector of Factories, and, in particular, to the statement that transport difficulties need the serious attention of all concerned as vital for the preservation of the health and well-being of the workpeople; and what action has been taken, or it is intended to take, in order to bring about much-needed improvements?

Mr. Bevin

The problems arising out of transport facilities for workpeople are receiving constant attention. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport, in November last, asked the Regional Transport Commissioners to take immediate steps to set up local consultative committees at places where there are difficulties in regard to the transport of workpeople, and he suggested that the Area Boards, the Supply Departments, the Factory Inspectorate, the welfare department of the Ministry of Labour, the railway and road transport undertakings, the employers and the trade unions should all be represented on these committees. A number have been established and by staggering hours of work and by provision of hostels and in other ways these committees have been able to resolve many problems. If the hon. Member will specify any particular cases he has in mind, my right hon. Friend will gladly look into them.

Mr. Mainwaring

Are any steps being taken to remove restrictions embodied in the Road Traffic Act, which permits a large number of vehicles going to certain specified destinations to run half empty and to refuse to take up workmen who are waiting on the roadside for a conveyance?

Mr. Bevin

I suggest to my hon. Friend that he should address that question to the Minister of Transport, who is responsible for the administration of the Road Traffic Act.

Mr. R. J. Taylor

Is my right hon. Friend aware that during recent severe weather in the North a considerable amount of work was lost because men were refused permission to enter works through being late owing to the snow?

Mr. Bevin

If information is given to me of managements acting in that way, I will take the matter up immediately. My hon. Friend will appreciate that it is normally a dangerous thing to relax discipline about starting time, or the whole thing may get demoralised. Where exceptional circumstances arise I should have thought that managements would act with common sense.