§ 6. Mr. Blenkinsopasked the Minister of Labour whether he is satisfied that the Advisory Committee on Industrial Health will have all the powers and resources necessary to enable it to carry out an effective survey, so as to make clear the main deficiencies of the existing health provisions in industry.
§ Mr. WatkinsonThe Committee will be an advisory body. The scheme for the development of industrial health services, including any necessary surveys, will be carried out through Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate, which possesses wide powers under the Factories Acts.
§ Mr. BlenkinsopIs the Minister satisfied that they have power to inspect all the conditions in some of the small factories where it is known that there is the most need of that at the present time?
§ Mr. WatkinsonThe powers are very wide. They include,
at all reasonable times, by night and day, right of entry into, inspection and examination of a factory and every part thereof. …
§ Mr. BlenkinsopIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the definition does not include a wide range of industrial processes outside the Factories Acts?
§ Mr. WatkinsonThe Committee which we have set up is dealing with premises covered by the Factories Acts.
§ 7. Mr. Blenkinsopasked the Minister of Labour if he has now completed his discussions with interested bodies regarding the composition of the Advisory Committee on Industrial Health; and whether he has now agreed to the inclusion of persons with experience of local government work in this field.
§ Mr. WatkinsonNo, Sir. Further requests for membership of the Committee have been received, and the whole subject is still under consideration.
§ Mr. BlenkinsopWill not the Minister now decide to give some place on this Committee to public health authorities, in view of the heavy responsibilities that they already bear? Is it not quite fantastic to set up a Committee to advise the Minister without including any representatives of this very important section?
§ Mr. WatkinsonI am sure that the hon. Gentleman will agree that local authorities, while very important in this field, have only a limited responsibility in the field of industrial health. But that does not prejudge the decision of my right hon. and learned Friend, which has yet to be taken.