§ 14. Mr. DUNNICOasked the Under-Secretary of State for India how many women are working in coal mines in India, and what proportion of these are working underground; how many children under 12 are working in the above mines; and what is the relative number of women and children to men working in the year 1902, and the number of mines worked in 1902 compared with the present time?
§ Earl WINTERTONAs the reply to this question contains a number of figures, 1057 I propose, with the hon. Member's permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the reply:
§ The average daily number of women employed in coal mines in British India in 1923 (the latest year for which figures are available) was 63,411, of whom 40,136 were employed underground. The employment of children under 13 is now prohibited. The average daily number of children under 12 employed in 1923 was 3,850, and the number of men was 115,340. The average daily numbers employed (above and below ground) in 1902 were: men, 59,686; women, 29,158; and children, 3,661. The number of mines worked in 1902 was 305, and in 1923 the number was 942.