§ Mr. EDGAR JONESasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any reduction has taken place in the number of cases of plumbism since the introduction of the new regulations; whether that reduction is more marked in some districts than in others; and, if so, what is deemed to be the cause of the reduction?
§ Mr. McKENNAI understand my hon. Friend to refer to the regulations for smelting of metals. I am glad to say that the figures for 1913 of cases of lead poisoning in this industry are less than half those for 1912—twenty-six as compared with fifty-six—and with the exception of 1905 are the lowest on record. The decrease, which is most marked in South Wales, is attributed largely to the periodical medical examination of the workers provided for in the regulations.