§ Mr. ELLIS DAVIESasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the fact that no less than 33 per cent, of the workmen employed inside the Dinorwic slate quarries, Carnarvonsire, were injured in each of the years 1908 and 1909, any special inquiry had been made into the circumstances; if not, would he consider the advisability of having an immediate inquiry instituted by some independent person acquainted with the slate industry?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Churchill)The inspectors of mines have been giving special attention to the question of accidents at these quarries. They point out that a very large proportion of the injuries are of an unimportant character, such as cuts or bruises—the sharp edges of the slate being a very fruitful cause of injury—and that if the serious accidents only are considered, namely, those reported to the inspector, the percentage is small—1 at Dinorwic and 1.96 for the other slate quarries in the same district during 1909. The inspectors have been instructed to report further after an examination of the accident returns for 1909 (which have only just become available), and in view of the approaching inquiry of the Royal Commission into the conditions at slate as well as other quarries, a separate independent inquiry would not, I think, be advisable.
§ Mr. ELLIS DAVIESMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is aware that the accidents in slate quarries were 100 per cent, greater in proportion to the number of men employed than in coal mines in 1908?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI have given the information which has reached me in regard to serious accidents. As to a special inquiry having been promised, I am not informed upon that, but, as I have said, the Royal Commission will cover the whole ground. I suppose that would in any case fulfil the pledge which has been made.
§ Mr. ELLIS DAVIESMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman when the Royal Commission will be appointed and when it will commence its work, in view of the fact that it has been promised for the last three years, and that about 33 per cent, of the workmen have been injured?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIt is a continuation of the work of the Commission appointed to inquire into the working of coal mines. It is a reconstitution of that Commission so as to equip it for further investigation in a new sphere of the mining industry. I hope it will get to work as quickly as circumstances will permit.