§ MR. CONYBEAREI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has taken any steps to obtain any reliable statistics as to the prevalence of, and the excessive mortality arising from, phthisis or miners' disease amongst the miners of Devon and Cornwall; whether he is aware that the majority of the Friendly and Benefit Societies in those counties refuse to accept the miners as members, owing to the excessive death rate arising from this cause; whether he is aware that the miners' clubs in the various mines, supported by contributions deducted from the men's wages, make provision only for accidents, and not for sickness resulting from the insanitary conditions under which they work; and whether he can furnish a Return, showing for each of the years 1880–90, the number and ages of the miners in the stannaries of Cornwall and Devon who have died from miners' disease or the diseases allied thereto.
§ MR. MATTHEWSThe Inspector having reported to me that the 501 causes which led to the high death-rate have been almost entirely eliminated, and that the next Report of the Registrar General will probably show a decreased mortality among Cornish miners, I have not considered it necessary to anticipate that Report by endeavouring to obtain statistics as to the prevalence of miners' disease in Cornwall.
§ MR. CONYBEAREWhat I want the right hon. Gentleman to appreciate is that there is a difference of opinion in the country on the subject, and whether he does not see his way to prosecute further inquiry for the satisfaction of the country.
§ MR. MATTHEWSI am afraid the hon. Gentleman has not yet read the Report of the Inspectors, which is in my office. I will send it to him.