§ 91. Mr. Mikardoasked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what steps she is taking, by legislation or otherwise, to strengthen the port loading regulations so as to prevent the possible danger to dock workers arising from overloading which results from the practice known as cube-cutting.
§ Mr. FernyhoughPreliminary enquiries do not indicate that "cube-cutting" leads to increased danger to dock workers, but I am having further investigations made, and when they are complete I will write to my hon. Friend.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity 24W whether she is aware that recently in the London Docks four men were hurt, two seriously, when a derrick collapsed after being overloaded; and whether she will obtain from the dock safety inspector details of how many accidents have been caused due to false descriptions and false details of weights of loads and on the extent to which the practice known as cube-cutting was a factor in these accidents.
§ Mr. FernyhoughMy Department has received no report in recent months of an accident corresponding precisely with the circumstances described by the hon. Member, but I am aware of an accident in London Docks in October, 1968, in which a ship's derrick fell, injuring two men. I understand that the accident was caused by a faulty span wire and that there was no evidence of overloading or incorrect weight marking. I am investigating the possibility of obtaining the details requested in the second part of the Question and I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.