§ 26. Mr. Prenticeasked the Minister of Labour how many industrial accidents affecting young workers occurred in premises covered by the Factories Acts during 1960; and what percentage increase this represents over the 1959 figure.
§ Mr. HareA total of 12,651 accidents were reported. This is an increase of 1,650 or 15 per cent. over the figure for 1959.
§ Mr. PrenticeAre not these figures very disturbing indeed. Is it not the second year running in which there has been a general increase in industrial accidents and a larger increase for young workers than for workers generally? Will the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that he is taking very energetic steps to intensify safety training for young people, particularly in view of the fact that a greater number of young people will be entering industry in the next two or three years?
§ Mr. HareThe hon. Member is quite right; these are serious figures which give us all considerable concern. As much publicity as possible should be given to this subject and to what is happening. I am doing all I can to impress on employers the need to train young people in safety methods, and I am in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Education to see whether more can be done in the technical schools to ensure that more safety training is given. I shall certainly do all that I can, I hope with the support of hon. Members on both sides of the House.
Mr. LeeDoes the Minister agree that this alarming increase is perhaps attributable to the same lack of training as we see in the engineering industry for apprenticeships? In other words, as one teaches apprenticeship, one teaches safety, in places where there is machinery. Would he try to enforce the view, which I know he takes, that more and more employers should train apprentices, because that is easily the best way of giving training in safety?
§ Mr. HareI agree with the hon. Member; I want more apprentices to be taken on by employers. We must do all that we can to make people more safety-conscious. I think that one of the reasons for the extra number of accidents is that there are many more young people in employment.