24. Major JOHN EDWARDSasked the Secretary for Mines whether his attention has been drawn to the accident which occurred at the Oakwood Drift Colliery, Pontrhydyfen, on the morning of the 18th November; whether he can give any detail of the accident; and whether he is in a position to state what were the causes of the explosion.
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Shortt)My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply. A report on this accident has been received from the Inspector of Mines. It appears that there was an explosion of gas and coal dust which killed three persons and injured two others. One of the latter is the fireman, who appears to have been engaged immediately before the explosion in firing a shot near the face of the workings. He has not yet sufficiently recovered to give any information, and the causes of till- explosion cannot, therefore, be definitely stated at present, but an inquest will be held and the matter fully investigated.