§ Mr. Edelmanasked the Minister of Labour why inspectors of factories spend one day or more of each week writing out in longhand a weekly report, much of which is routine and repetition copying of Acts of Parliament; and if he will arrange for this work to be done either by clerks or in the form of code numbers, in order to free inspectors for their proper work, in view of the shortage of inspectors.
§ Mr. Isaacs:The composition of reports is an essential part of the proper work of a factory inspector. It is not work which can be delegated to clerks or reduced to code numbers. Verbatim quotations from Acts or Regulations are only included in exceptional cases where this is essential to the understanding of the report.
§ Mr. Edelmanasked the Minister of Labour how many factory inspectors there are at present; how much below strength this is; how many established and unestablished inspectors, respectively, have left to take up other employment since September, 1939; and if he is satisfied that conditions in the Department since it was taken over by his Ministry are such as to attract and keep the right type of inspector.
§ Mr. Isaacs:There are at present 337 established and temporary factory in- 98W spectors. This is more than prewar strength. Since September, 1939, seven established inspectors and 63 temporary inspectors have left of their own accord to take up other employment. The majority of the temporary inspectors were engaged for the period of hostilities only or were engaged for particular purposes and not suitable for the full range of duties of factory inspectors. The number of resignations cannot, therefore, be taken as indicating that the conditions of service under my Ministry have not been sufficiently attractive. Steps are now being taken with a view to resuming recruitment of permanent inspectors of prewar standard.
§ Mr. Edelmanasked the Minister of Labour how many factories are registered under the Factories Act; how many prosecutions were taken in each year 1939–1945 under the employment sections of the Act, and how many under the welfare sections; and if, in view of the discrepancies he is satisfied that in nearly all factories conditions as to welfare are satisfactory.
§ Mr. Isaacs:The number of factories registered under the Factories Act is approximately 225,000. The number of firms or persons prosecuted during the years 1939 to 1945 for offences relating to hours of employment and welfare were:
Year. Hours of Employment. Welfare. 1939 142 3 1940 70 6 1941 80 5 1942 50 6 1943 82 8 1944 64 10 1945 74 8 The number of prosecutions does not indicate the degree of compliance with statutory requirements. One of the results of the exigencies of wartime has been that the welfare amenities in many factories could not be made as satisfactory as they should be.