Dr. Morganasked the Minister of Labour whether any recent visit has been paid by the factory inspectorate to the establishment of the Metropolitan Plywood Company, Leonard Street, City Road, E.; whether he is aware that the statutory regulations regarding washing facilities for employees are not being observed by this firm doing contract work for the Ministry of Aircraft Production; that on one floor only one water bucket is provided for 50 employees to wash the glue off their 389W hands; whether cases of skin irritation are frequent; and whether he has considered the prosecution of this firm for breach of the factory laws?
§ Mr. BevinThe factory was visited by an inspector in December as well as several times previously last year, The lay-out and work have lately been altered and I am advised that, partly as a result of this, the arrangement and other features of the washing facilities are at present unsatisfactory. There are wash-basins, though they are unevenly distributed about the factory, and new basins, each with a hot and cold water supply, are now being installed throughout the factory. There have recently been some cases of skin trouble connected with a certain kind of work, and the question of further precautions against this is being gone into by a medical inspector. As at present advised I do not consider that the case is one for prosecution.