§ 9. Mr. Gallacherasked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that the miners at the Lindsay pit, West Fife, made an application for the installation of pit baths in 1930 and that they have repeatedly raised the matter since but, owing to the many demands before the welfare committee and the lack of finance, no hope can be offered of an early installation; and what steps, if any, his Department is taking to expedite the general installation of this essential part of pit equipment?
§ The Secretary for Mines (Captain Crookshank)I understand that, except for a notification from the colliery company in 1930 that the workmen of Lindsay Colliery had ballotted in favour of pithead baths, the Central Miners' Welfare Committee did not receive any communication on the subject until February of this year. Meanwhile, baths have been or are being built in the Fife and Clackmannan District at a number of other collieries in the order recommended by the District Miners' Welfare Committee who have considered the application from Lindsay Colliery. With regard to the second part of the question, I am in consultation with the Central Miners' Welfare Committee regarding the question of accelerating generally the provision of baths at collieries.
§ Mr. GallacherIn view of the many collieries in West Fife and other places 152 that are urgently waiting for baths, can the Minister give us any hope that there will be big acceleration, and that some ways and means will be found of accelerating the provision of pit baths?
§ Mr. E. J. WilliamsWill the Minister inquire into the necessity of there being more finance for the purpose? That is the only impediment in the way.