Mr. RUTHERFORDasked the Minister of Munitions whether he has seen the correspondence between his Department and an urban district council, including a copy of the letter written by the latter to the Home Office on the 30th October ultimo; whether he is aware that inconvenience and injury to health are still being experienced in a thickly populated area owing to the noxious fumes emitted in large quantities from a certain works operated by his Department, notwithstanding repeated promises of amendment over a period exceeding twelve months; whether his attention has been called to the danger from fire and explosives owing to some of the structures in the works being made of inflammable material and in continuity; whether he is aware that all these dangers have been suitably provided against at a similar works in another place, and that the above-mentioned district council cannot understand why their district should not be similarly protected and similar precautions taken; and whether he will give instructions to have these matters attended to without further delay?
§ Dr. ADDISONThe works referred to were taken over by the Ministry of Munitions from their owners some time ago, and are now in course of reconstruction in accordance with the best modern practice. A certain amount of fume is inherent in the process of manufacture carried on at this factory, but the fumes there are no worse than at other similar factories. The commodity manufactured at this factory does not come within the provisions of the Explosives Act, and every possible precaution against accident is taken.