§ Sir CHARLES DILKEasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he can inform the House of the reason for the considerable reduction in the number of pottery glazes sent for analysis and the determination of the amount of lead present and proportion existing in the soluble condition, recorded in the report of the principal chemist of the Government laboratory for the year ended 31st March last?
§ Mr. GLADSTONENo rule has been laid down as to the number of samples to be sent for analysis, and it necessarily varies from year to year. In 1906–7 only six or seven samples were sent; in 1907–8 the number was 97 (including samples of glazed pottery); and in 1908–9 it was 26. In the five months since 31st March last 47 samples have been taken for analysis. When the Lead Committee has reported it may perhaps be possible to lay down some rule as to how many samples should be taken, but it is obviously desirable that it should be done at uncertain intervals and not at stated times.