§ Mr. DENNISONasked the Home Secretary if his attention has been directed to an accident on a building contract at Manchester' on 24th September last which resulted in the loss of the lives of three workmen; whether he has noted the observations of the Coroner's jury that the men had met their death through the overloading of a crane in contravention of the statutory regulations applying to building contracts; and if he will consider, in view of the increasing number of fatal crane accidents on building contracts, the advisability of issuing regulations that only certified supervisors will be permitted to take charge of such operations, and the strengthening of the safety regulations generally for cranes engaged on building operations?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSYes, Sir. The factory inspector who attended the inquest drew attention in his report to the observations of the jury, and appropriate action is being taken with respect to the breaches of the Building Regulations which appear to have been committed. The question of taking further precautions to ensure safer working of cranes in building operations has been238W engaging the serious attention of the Department and a conference on the subject is taking place at the Home Office this month with the makers of cranes and representatives of the building employers and operatives. The position will be carefully reviewed as soon as the report of the conference is received.