§ MR. ELLIS DAVIES (Carnarvonshire, Eifion)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the fact that, according to the Report on Mines and Quarries for 1905, the fatalities among the inside workers in mines were 1.519 per 1000, whilst among inside workers in slate quarries it was no less than 2.39; and what steps, if any, have 769 been taken in face of the statement on Mines and Quarries (1905), page 95, that an unsatisfactory feature of Table 82 is the high death rate among the inside workers in slate quarries.
§ MR. GLADSTONEI am aware of the figures to which the hon. Member calls my attention and which are those published in the animal statistics issued by my Department. The figures however for 1906, not yet issued, will show a very great decrease in the death rate for the Carnarvonshire slate quarries, only one fatal accident having occurred at those quarries during the year. The conditions existing at these quarries are receiving special attention from the inspectors, and I have called for a further Report from them on the subject.
§ MR. WILLIAM JONES (Carnarvonshire, Arfon)In view of the great danger in the working of metalliferous mines, will evidence as to them be received before the Mines Commission?
§ MR. GLADSTONEI think it will be open to the Commission to take such evidence, but I am not sure.