Dr. DAVIESasked the Home Secretary under what powers he appoints medical men to the factory service; are such medical men under lay control in his Department; and, if so, whether, in view of the recommendation adopted by this country at the Washington Conference, he will constitute a separate health department for this service?
§ Mr. CLYNESThe medical inspectors of factories are appointed in pursuance of the general powers conferred by Section 118 of the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901, for the appointment of such inspectors as may be necessary for the execution of the Act. They constitute a separate, but integral, branch of the Factory Department, and the senior medical inspector who is in charge of the branch acts under the directions of the Chief Inspector of Factories. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative. As already explained to the hon. Member in reply to his question of the 11th instant, it is understood that the intention of the Washington recommendation was to secure the establishment of a medical branch in connection with factory inspection, and this is already given effect to in the existing arrangements.