asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that in the year 1934 the Probation of Offenders Act was applied in the case of a prosecution under the Factory and Workshop Acts where the occupier of a wood turning factory was charged with eight specific offences involving the risk of life, including the offence of failure to fence securely the main belt drive to countershaft, failure to fence securely underground shafting, failure to provide a riving knife for a circular saw, failure to provide top of circular saw with a guard and failure to protect the part of a circular saw below the work-bench; whether he was advised that the neglect charged and proved against the occupier of the premises in question exposed the workers employed by him to serious risk and whether in view of the unwillingness of the court to impose substantial penalties in respect of such serious offences he will make provisions when introducing proposals for future factory legislation for specific minimum penalties in such cases.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Penalties Under Factories Acts.
I am aware that in 1934 the Probation of Offenders Act was applied in the case of a prosecution under the Factory and Workshop Acts and that certain of the offences complained of were serious. I should point out that when the case came before the district justice the occupier of the factory in question had no employees and the contraventions complained of had been remedied. The question of the provision of minimum penalties is being carefully considered.