§ 85. Mr. GAVAN-DUFFYasked the Secretary for Mines if he can state how many iron-ore mines and other mines governed by the provisions of the Metalliferous Mines Act exist in Scotland, and where they are situated; whether, seeing that the junior inspector of mines now imported into Cumberland has had 10 weeks of experience in iron-ore mining, but not as an iron-ore miner, he will say what guarantee exists to the workers in those mines that their lives and limbs are safeguarded by practical inspection; whether he is aware that the sub-inspector now imported into Cumberland from Cleveland has not been governed there by any other than the Coal Mines Regulation Act; if he will give the names and places of the mines where he gained experience in iron-ore mines: and what was the nature of his experience?
§ Mr. SHINWELLIt would take too long to read out particulars of the 22 metalliferous mines in Scotland; my hon. Friend will find them in the official Mines List. I can give no guarantee that inspection alone can safeguard the lives and limbs of miners. Mines in Cleveland, like all stratified ironstone mines, are governed by the Act of 1911. The sub-inspector in question was a miner and deputy in the Easton Mine, Middlesbrough.
§ Mr. GAVAN-DUFFYDoes the hon. Member agree with his own statement that experience of the iron-ore mines is enough to qualify for an inspector of mines?
§ Mr. SHINWELLI have no recollection of having made a statement to that effect.
§ Mr. GAVAN-DUFFYYou did.