§ MR. ELLIS DAVIES (Carnarvonshire, Eifion)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps, if any, have been taken in view of the statement on page 99 of the Reports on Mines and Quarries for 1905 (Labour) that accidents by falls would be reduced if more quarries were worked in steps or galleries instead of with a vertically continuous face of great height; whether he is aware that 33 per cent, of fatal accidents in quarries are due to falls; and whether, under those circumstances, the Report has been brought to the attention of quarry owners with a view to their adopting the gallery system wherever practicable.
§ MR. GLADSTONENo special steps have been taken to bring this particular remark to the notice of the quarry owners. The Report itself is widely circulated by the Home Office, and is reviewed at length in the trade papers. The point is no doubt present to the minds of all the inspectors, but they have no power to direct the adoption of any particular method of working. Special precautions against falls are contained in Nos. 1, 2 and 3 of the Code of Special Rules for Quarries which has been established at a large number of quarries. These are enforced by the inspectors.
† See (4) Debates, clx., 1335.748 Quarry legislation is one of the numerous subjects which call for my attention.