§ Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCKasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the prevalence of unhealthy conditions in the hollow-ware industry, and especially in the galvanising process, and to the report of the inspectors who conducted the Home Office inquiry into tinning, and the evidence to this effect tendered to the dangerous trades committee; and whether, in view of these facts and the alleged injury to the health of the workers engaged in the trade, he is prepared to order an inquiry into the conditions under which the manufacture of hollow-ware is carried on, with special reference to the galvanising process?
§ Mr. McKENNAThis industry has received close attention from the Department for a number of years. The tinning of hollow-ware was dealt with, after a special inquiry, by regulations in 1009, and the number of lead poisoning cases has fallen from twenty-two in 1909 to fourteen in the present year, most of which are slight. The galvanising of hollow-ware was inquired into in 1897 by the Dangerous Trades Committee, who did not recommend that the industry should be scheduled as dangerous, and has been carefully watched since. Last year a further inquiry was made by the Dangerous Trades inspector and one of the medical inspectors, but they were unable to find any evidence of injury to health in the process as ordinarily carried on. The results of the inquiry are summarised in the last annual report of the chief inspector. The existing powers of securing improved ventilation have been found sufficient to deal with cases in which the fumes were not properly disposed of, and no further action seems necessary at present.