§ Colonel DAYasked the Home Secretary what is the penalty for a breach of Regulation 7 in the case of chemical works; whether any prosecution took place in respect of the two gassing accidents resulting in the loss of life men- 1639W tioned on pages 36 and 37 of the Report of the Chief Inspector of Factories for 1924; and, if so, what was the result?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThe penalties applicable in the case of a breach of this Regulation will be found in Sections 85 and 136 of the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901. If the breach is committed by the occupier, owner or manager, the penalty is a fine not exceeding £10, or, in the case of a continuing offence, not exceeding £2 for every day during which the offence continues after conviction therefor; and where a breach by the occupier results in the death or injury of any person he is liable to a penalty not exceeding £100. Where the contravention is committed by a workman or other person bound to observe the Regulation, the penalty is a fine not exceeding £2. No prosecution took place in the two cases mentioned, because it was considered that the object of the Regulation could be better attained by taking up the question of the arrangements to be made in pursuance of the Regulation with the representative associations of the employers in the industry. This has now been done, and I am glad to say that as a result of a conference with the Factory Department these associations have now circulated recommendations to all their members emphasising the necessity for a thorough compliance with the requirements in question and indicating the most appropriate measures to be taken for this purpose.