§ Mr. MORRELLasked the Home Secretary the number of fatal accidents that have occurred in factories and workshops in each of the last five years, 1909–13, including those that have occurred in places under Sections 104 to 105 of the Act, and stating the percentage of increase in 1913 as compared with 1909?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe figures for each of the last five years commencing with 1909 are as follows: 946, 1,030, 1,182, 1,260, 1,309. The percentage of increase in 1913 as compared with 1909 is 38.4. I must point out, however, to my hon. Friend that the year 1909, which he has selected for purposes of comparison, was a year of exceptionally slack trade and showed the smallest number of fatal accidents since 1900. Compared with 1907, the' highest year before 1909, the increase is only 11 per cent. I may add that the first six months of this year, with a rise in the unemployment rate, show a fall of 33 in the number of fatal accidents as compared with the first six months of last year.