§ 16. Mr. Storeyasked the Minister of Labour whether he has yet received the report of Her Majesty's Factory Inspector upon the accident on 19th February on the new high level Barton Bridge; and if he will make a statement thereon.
§ Mr. WoodYes. Sir. I have now received a report on this accident from the Factory Inspectorate, and I am sure the House will join me in expressing deep sympathy with the relatives of those who were killed.
I understand that the bridge partially collapsed when four steel girders forming part of the approaches to it were being installed on concrete piers. The more important reasons for the collapse appear to have been the faulty design and construction of temporary scaffolding towers erected to support the girders.
The towers were erected by a firm of scaffolders for Messrs. Samuel Butler and Co., Ltd., the contractors responsible for the construction of the steel work of the bridge. The Inspectorate have been in touch with the contractors, who will themselves erect the new support towers for the girders to a design by a firm of qualified consulting engineers, who will examine them before they are loaded. The Chief Inspector is arranging a meeting with representatives of the scaffolding firm responsible for the original construction.
§ Mr. StoreyWhile thanking my hon. Friend for that reply, which will do a lot to restore confidence amongst the workers 371 on the bridge, may I ask if he can give any information about the stoppage of work that has arisen as a result of this accident; and whether he will use his good offices to secure a resumption of work as early as possible?
§ Mr. WoodI will make further inquiries about the matter that my hon. Friend raises and will certainly bend my efforts in the direction he suggests.
§ Mr. Frank AllaunIs the Parliamentary Secretary aware that this stoppage has arisen because the Constructional Engineering Union workers employed there feel a lack of confidence in the supervising staff and are insisting on expert people who have had training in the job and are members of their own union?
§ Mr. WoodMy hon. Friend the Member for Stretford (Mr. Storey) has asked about the accident. If the hon. Member for Salford, East (Mr. Allaun) likes to put a Question about the stoppage of work, I will certainly answer it.