§ Mr. Chetwynd(by Private Notice) asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make a statement on the tragic accident at the I.C.I. works at Billingham, near Stockton-on-Tees, last night.
§ The Minister of Labour and National Service (Mr. Iain Macleod)The District Inspector of Factories is investigating the accident urgently and he will report to the Chief Inspector in the course of the day. I do not think that I can usefully comment on this sad accident until the report is available, but I would like to take this opportunity of expressing my sympathy with the relatives of those who were killed.
§ Mr. ChetwyndMay I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his reply and associate my hon. Friend the Member for Sedgefield (Mr. Slater), in whose constituency the accident occurred, but who is at present at the Council of Europe, and myself, from whose constituency many of the workers come, with the right hon. Gentleman's expression of sympathy? At the same time may we express our 400 sympathy with I.C.I. in the fact that this tragedy should have hit that organisation when this £9 million new plant was just being opened?
Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the inquiry to which he has referred is a preliminary inquiry, to be followed later by a full-scale inquiry by his Department? Can he also say whether the factory is now safe for work to continue?
§ Mr. MacleodMy District Inspector, who is a chemist, is already undertaking the inquiry and the Chief Inspector will have his report by tonight. I will have to study it before I can be certain whether any other form of inquiry is necessary, although I would not think so. The company is, of course, carrying out its own inquiry.
In the nature of things, I cannot give an answer on the second point. I know, however, that my District Inspector will be studying that matter and the company itself, which, as the House knows, has very high standards indeed in this matter, will also pay attention to it.