§ Mr. WIGNALLasked the Home Secretary if he will cause inquiries to be made into the conditions existing in the chemical and copper trades with the view of applying the welfare order to those industries?
§ Mr. SHORTTThe conditions in the chemical industries have been the subject of special investigation, and draft Regulations under Section 79 of the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901, have been under discussion with the industries for some time past. These Regulations, which it is hoped to bring into force very shortly, will require the provision of protective clothing and other welfare arangements for persons employed in a number of processes liable to cause special danger to health. It was originally hoped to apply those arrangements more widely, but in view of the expense entailed and other circumstances, it has been necessary for the present to limit them to the specially dangerous processes. As regards the copper trades, by which I understand the hon. Member to mean the copper smelting industry, no application for a Welfare Order has been received, but I will cause inquiry to be made as to the need for an Order in this industry.