Mr. Edward M. Taylor:

asked the Minister of Labour how many accidents occurred to employees in the catering industry in the years 1953, 1958 and 1963, respectively; and how the incidence of accidents in this industry compares with the general incidence of accidents in British industry.

There are no statistics available in our Department, since the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act, under which accidents in catering establishments must be reported, only came into force on 1st August, 1964. On the basis of claims for industrial injury benefit made to the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance, it would appear that the accident rate in the catering and hotel industry, in each of the years 1953, 1958 and 1953, was substantially lower, in relation to numbers employed, than the rate for all industries and services.

Mr. Taylor:

As this is one of the most significant and most accident-prone industries in the lighter range, is there not justification for a special inquiry by the Factories Inspectorate into it, and does not the Minister agree that the substantial percentage of old and female labour employed, with the dangers of scalding, bruising and injury from the carrying of excessive weights, gives further justification for such an inquiry?

I repeat that, from the information available, it appears that the incidence of accidents is less than in industry generally. It is rather difficult to make the comparison because of the different types of return rendered to the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance in past years. We shall now be comparing these and our factory inspectors are giving local authorities guidance about enforcement. My right hon. Friend will be laying before Parliament next year the statistics for the last five months of this year in his first Annual Report under the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act. We are concerned that there have been some serious accidents reported, and we think it important that an effective check should be made.