Letters and Papers Concerning the Trans-Persian Railway and Other Railways in Persia [‎192v] (384/442)

449 Factory An East India Company trading post. and Workshop
(No. 2) Bill. 450
[LORDS]
regulations should be made by the Home
Office ; and that the Bill should not
operate until the Home Office makes the
regulations That is the right course, and I
urge His Majesty’s Government to consider
the point before the next stage of the Bill is
taken.
Lord STRACHIE : With a good deal
of what the noble Marquess has said I
agree, but I would point out some of the
difficulties. It would be perfectly impossi
ble for the Home Office straight off to make
regulations dealing with every one of the
various trades-which have been included in
the schedule of this Bill.
The Marquess of SALISBRUY : They
have till 1914.
Lord STRACHIE : It might take many
. years to do this.
The Marquess of SALISBURY : Oh !
Lord STRACHIE : Well, that is the
opinion held at the Home Office. I would
remind the noble Marquess, as regards
some of the various classes which he desires
to include in the schedule, that at the present
moment there is no power for Home Office
inspectors to deal with these classes. For
instance, as regards typewriting offices and
restaurant kitchens there is no power of
inspection by the Home Office. The only
people who have that power are the officers
of the local authorities. Perhaps between
now and the Report Stage the noble
Marquess can bring forward suggestions
which may make it possible for the Home
Office to undertake this work. I must say
I was rather surprised at the fear shown by
the noble Marquess of local authorities.
I have served upon every kind of local
authority, and I certainly have no dread
that local authorities are going to be too
active in this matter. I think the pro
moters of the Bill would rather have to fear
that the local authorities would not be
sufficiently active. If local authorities are
too active, all they do is done in sight of the
electors who return them, and where any
injustice is likely to be done there will be
a good opportunity of correcting those
people who go in front of public opinion.
For myself I have not the slightest fear that
local authorities are likely to be too active
or unfair or unjust in this matter. The
noble Marquess not only appears nervous of
local authorities but he also seems to think
that there is not much faith to be put in
Courts of Summary Jurisdiction. These
The Marquess of Salisbury.
Benches carry out their duties with the
greatest care, the greatest circumspection,
and the greatest fairness, and I cannot see
anything wrong in the provisions of
Clause 2 in regard to this matter. But I
will see that the point is carefully con
sidered and will bring the remarks of the
noble Marquess before the Home Secretary
between now and the Report stage.
The Marquess of SALISBURY : I am
obliged to the noble Lord, and after his
promise I will not press the matter. It is
not that I distrust local authorities, but I
think the Home Office ought to see that
regulations are made in each case. I am
not afraid that the local authorities will be
too active in the matter, but rather that
the interests which are involved will take
care, unless there is an amendment in this
direction, that the Bill will not pass into
law.
Lord STRACHIE : It is.difficult for the
Home Office to make regulations in regard
to places where we have no power to send
our inspectors.
The Marquess of SALISBURY : I was
not aware that the Home Office had no
powers of inspection in the two cases
referred to by the noble Lord. I will
consider that point before the next stage.
Clause 2 agreed to.
Clauses 3 to 7 agreed to.
Clause 8 :
Regulations.
8 . — (1) The Secretary of State may by Order
make regulations as to structure of underground
rooms to which this Act applies, and the provision
and use as regards such rooms of means for secur
ing the maintenance of reasonable temperature,
proper lighting and ventilation, freedom from
damp, dust, effluvia, and exhalations, and the
carrying off of dust and fumes, and otherwise for
securing the health of persons employed in under
ground rooms in the processes and occupations to
which this Act applies; and different regulations
may be made as respects different processes and
different occupations, or as respects rooms which
are used for the purposes of any of such processes
or occupations at the time when the Order comes
into effect, and rooms which are not so used.
(2) The Secretary of State may by order extend
the provisions of this Act to processes and occupa
tions other than those specified in the Schedule to
this Act, and thereupon this Act shall, subject to
the provisions of the Order, apply as if that
schedule included the processes and occupations
specified in the order.
(3) Sections eighty, eighty-one, and eighty-four
of the Factory An East India Company trading post. and Workshop Act, 1901 (relating
to the procedure for making regulations as to
dangerous trades), shall apply to the making of
orders under this section.