§ 4. Dr. Strossasked the Minister of Labour whether he will give consideration to the appointment of internal factory inspectors in the pottery industry, 1055 so that they will be elected by their fellow workers and not appointed by the employers.
§ Mr. WatkinsonNo, Sir. The present statutory obligation to appoint competent persons to carry out systematic inspections in potteries is placed upon the occupiers by a Regulation made under the Factories Acts. The obligation was imposed after close consultation with organisations representing employers and workers.
§ Dr. StrossDoes the Parliamentary Secretary agree that these statutory regulations were imposed in 1913 in the first place, and after 40 years can we not have a little more democracy in this matter? If the hon. Gentleman feels that he cannot allow it for the whole industry, will he consider the sanitary section and ask his own factory inspectors and the union whether they do not agree?
§ Mr. WatkinsonI want to correct the hon. Gentleman because, when the Pottery Health and Welfare Special Regulations were made in 1950 under his own Government, the old and standing procedure was followed again, namely, that the Regulations require that only the man who can take the action shall be notified.