HC Deb 06 March 1963 vol 673 cc519-20
Mr. Hare

I beg to move, in page 5, line 45, at the end to insert: (3) All glazed windows and skylights used for the lighting of any part of premises to which this Act applies in which work, or through which pass, any of the persons employed to work in the premises shall, so far as reasonably practicable, be kept clean on both the inner and outer surfaces and free from obstruction; but this subsection shall not affect the whitewashing or shading of windows or skylights for the purpose of mitigating heat or glare. I think that it might be convenient, Mr. Deputy-Speaker, if we could discuss at the same time the two Amendments in Clause 35, in page 24, line 23, at the end to insert: (c) all glazed windows and skylights used for the lighting of a part of a common part of a building to which this section applies in which the securing of lighting is required by this subsection to be provided for shall, so far as reasonably practicable, be kept clean on both the inner and outer surfaces and free from obstruction". In page 24, line 28, at the end to insert: but paragraph (c) above shall not affect the whitewashing or shading of windows or skylights for the purpose of mitigating heat or glare".

Mr. Deputy-Speaker

Yes, if that is the wish of the House.

Mr. Hare

The Amendment to Clause 8 reproduces, with minor variations, Section 5 (4) of the Factories Act. As I explained in Committee, we had considered that this subsection had more application to factories than to offices and shops. However, having heard the arguments of the hon. Member for Sheffield, Attercliffe (Mr. J. Hynd), who moved an Amendment in similar terms, I agreed to propose at a later stage the addition of a provision on these lines. In fact, this provision goes wider than the Factories Act and the requirement will apply to passages as well as to places where people work.

The other Amendments will impose a similar obligation to keep clean and free of obstruction glazed windows and skylights to which Clause 35 applies, that is to say, stairs and landings. Because of the way the Bill is drafted, the requirement will also apply to Clause 36 buildings without any Amendment being made to that Clause.

Amendment agreed to.