HC Deb 21 March 1929 vol 226 cc1881-2W
Sir W. EDGE

asked the Home Secretary the number of accidents to workpeople in factories and workshops in England and Wales in 1928; the number of fatalities; and whether he is satisfied that adequate progress is being made with the safety-first arrangements?

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

The number of accidents, as provisionally ascertained, was 126,366, of which 578 were fatal. As regards the second part of the question, I am glad to say that the action which was taken last autumn, in response to my representations, by a number of important employers' associations, has had good results and that substantial progress is being made in the industries chiefly concerned. A great deal, of course, remains to be done, and there are still many works where no adequate arrangements have yet been set up, but the outlook is distinctly encouraging, and I hope for a much fuller and wider development of this movement in the near future.