§ 74. Mr. CAIRNSasked the Secretary for Mines what action his Department is taking to introduce into coal mines and other mines, in order to reduce accidents, appliances such as overwinding inventions at shaft heads; is his Department introducing any means to guard against falls of roof and sides, and thereby lessen accidents to life and limb; is he aware of accidents caused by gas in mines and of accidents by shots missing fire; and, if so, will he introduce into the mines the best known safety appliances to reduce such accidents to the lowest possible minimum?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI am well aware of the dangers to which the hon. Member refers, and can assure him that they receive constant attention from the Mines Inspectors and at the headquarters of the Mines Department. The compulsory use of detaching hooks and of automatic contrivances to prevent overwinding is already provided for by Section 40 of the Coal Mines Act., 1911, and there are detailed requirements in the Mines Acts and Regulations for the prevention, so far as possible, of accidents from other causes. As regards the testing and use at mines of new safety appliances I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on 1st May to the hon. Member for Bedwelty.