§ Mr. STEEL-MAITLANDasked how many deaths from pneumonokoniosis, bronchitis, and other lung diseases, respectively, had occurred in each of the years 1907, 1908, 1909 in those enumeration districts in the valley of the Don above Sheffield in which Ganister mines are situated; what rates those deaths formed of the population of those districts, and how they compared with the rates of mortality from similar diseases for England as a whole; and what would be the mortality figure for those districts from those diseases if calculated on the lines of Table IV., Vol. II., of the last decennial supplement to the Report of the Registrar-General?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Churchill)I have communicated with the Registrar- 867 General, who states that causes of death are not classified for areas less than registration districts, and that while it would be possible to furnish death rates for the diseases mentioned in the district principally affected during 1907 and 1908, the effect of any special mortality among the miners would be masked by the general mortality of the district, and that the rates themselves could not be taken as reliable in view of the time that has elapsed since the last Census. This would also prevent any mortality figure being prepared. I think the best course will be to leave the matter to the Royal Commission on Mines, who will be making inquiry into the working of the special rules for rock-drilling, and will doubtless consider what statistics can be obtained. I may add that the inspector informs me that there is far less dust, and the ventilation is much better now in these mines, and that workers and officials are agreed that the effect of the special rules has been most beneficial.
§ Mr. STEEL-MAITLANDCan the right hon. Gentleman say with what period the present condition is compared when he says the ventilation is better now?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI do not know exactly, but since the introduction of the present rules there has been a noticeable improvement.