§ MR. MARKHAM (Nottinghamshire, Mansfield)To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, seeing that the recommendations of the Electricity in Mines Departmental Committee are in some respects opposed to the latest practice adopted by the electrical engineers of corporation and traction companies, and are therefore opposed by engineers, he will, to expedite the passing of a uniform set of rules, ask the Coal-owners' and Miners' Associations to form a joint committee to agree to the main recommendations of this Committee which are not the subject of any serious controversy.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Akers-Douglas.) I am not aware that the Committee's recommendations are opposed to the latest practice of the engineering profession. One of the members of the Committee was a distinguished engineer, and the Committee received very great assistance from that profession in their 946 inquiry. I do not propose to delay the establishment of the rules by referring them to a further committee as suggested. The rules have been for some time under the consideration of the Owners' Association assisted by a number of electrical engineers, and the communications received lead me to hope that, subject to modifications on some minor points, the recommendations generally of the Committee (on which I may add the miners were ably represented) will be accepted.
§ MR. MARKHAMTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, seeing that the Electricity in Mines Committee recommended that the application of special electrical rules should be left in the hands of His Majesty's Inspectors of Mines, he will, in view that most of the inspectors have had no practical experience whatever of electrical work, ask the House to vote the necessary money to enable him to appoint a sufficient number of electrical inspectors so that an inspection could be made by these inspectors at least once a year at all collieries where electrical plant is installed; and will he say how many deaths occurred last year in mines and shafts due to electricity.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Akers-Douglas.) The view of the Committee was that the enforcement of these, as of all other special rules, should be left in the hands of the inspectors of mines, and I agree with that view. The appointment of special inspectors for the purpose would be undesirable. If, however, as the matter proceeds, it should appear that there is any necessity for it, I shall be prepared to consider the possibility of giving the inspectors the assistance of expert advice in the matter. The number of deaths last year in mines from electric shock was four.