§ Mr. GOULDasked the Home Secretary whether a systematic inspection under the Factory and Workshops Act is now taken and within certain definite periods; and has he sufficient staff to ensure that each such place is visited at least once a year?
§ Mr. SHORTThe standard of inspection now, aimed at is that recommended by the recent Departmental Committee on the Factory Inspectorate, who go very fully into the question in paragraphs 26 to 44 of their report. They considered that the more important works should be visited at least once a year, but that a standard of at least one visit every two years would be sufficient in the case of works in which only a small number of persons are employed, no dangerous or injurious process is carried on, and the conditions generally can be regarded as satisfactory. They recommended further that works coming under certain codes of Regulations should be visited every quarter. This standard cannot be secured 935W with the present staff, but it should be possible to conform to it when the large increase recently sanctioned by the Government has been recruited.