Mr. DAVIESasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the cases of lead poisoning in the Potteries have been rising since 1921; whether his attention has been attracted to the fact that among these cases are those of young girls aged 20, 19, and 17 years of ago; whether he can account for severe cases occurring among persons who have only worked under the conditions safeguarded by the Regulations of 1913; and will he inquire in which firms the incidence is greatest?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThere has been a small increase each year, the figures for the four years 1921 to 1924 being 35, 42, 44 and 47. Out of the total of 168 cases, five were cases of girls of 20 years of age or under, but only one of these was severe, and during the years in question there were only four severe cases altogether among workers who had not been employed in the potteries before the present Regulations came into force. It is not possible to account with certainty for these isolated cases, but I am advised that they were probably due to a peculiar susceptibility on the part of the worker. The cases were widely distributed. Out of 112 firms concerned, five had four cases, nine had three cases, 23 had two cases and 75 had one case each.