§ 3. Mr. SWANasked the Secretary of State for India whether he can state how many coal mines inspectors are engaged in the Indian coal mines; what is the proportion of coal mines allocated to each inspector; if a record of the accidents in the mines, fatal and non-fatal, is kept; what is the yearly average of such accidents; if compensation is paid to those who meet with accidents in and about the mines and what is the amount; what is the age when young persons are permitted to enter mines; if women are permitted to be employed in and about the mines; if any Coal Mines Regulation Acts are in existence fixing the hours of labour for miners, and how many days per week and what are the annual holidays; and what is the day's wage paid to miners?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Mr. Montagu)The Department of Mines in India has a staff of one chief inspector and four inspectors, who deal with mines of all descriptions under the Indian Mines Act of 1901. It has been decided to increase this staff by two officers, who are now being recruited. I do not know the proportion of coal 2148 mines allocated to each inspector. The annual published report of the chief inspector contains statistics of fatal and of serious accidents, with details of the former. The average number of separate fatal accidents for the three years 1916 to 1918 (the date of the latest report) was 175, involving 217 deaths, and of serious non-fatal accidents, 295. Compensation is not compulsorily payable except when the employer has been negligent or otherwise culpable. There is no age limit for the employment of young persons in mines, but the question of fixing a limit is under the consideration of the Government of India. Women may be employed, employment being largely based on the family system. As to hours and wages, I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member on 22nd December last, except that miners are believed usually to work on five or six days a week.
§ Mr. SWANAre we to understand that in the case of ordinary accidents in the mines in India, the person injured gets no compensation?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThere is no Workmen's Compensation Act or anything analogous to it in India at present, but if there has been negligence, of course he gets compensation.
§ Mr. MONTAGUI have very little knowledge of mining, but I gave the statistics as to accidents in three years. They did not seem to me to be very heavy.
§ Mr. R. MCLARENIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the women at the Indian mines are taken out by their husbands, who do the work, and that the wives are kept there in case some other man steals them?
§ Mr. MONTAGUYes. I have stated, in answer to the question, that it was done on the family principle.