§ 29. Mr. GEORGE HIRSTasked the Secretary for Mines how many boys of 16 years of age and under are employed in the mines of Great Britain?
§ Commodore KINGPersons employed are only classified to show boys under 16 years of age. In December, 1927, the latest date for which definite information is available, the total number of boys under 16 years of age employed above and below ground at mines under the Coal Mines Act was 42,100. Assuming that boys of this age form the same proportion now as then of the total number of persons employed, the number of such boys would be 39,300 at the present time.
§ Mr. MARDY JONESAre the Government considering legislation so that these boys will remain in school until 16?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat does not arise on this question.
§ 30. Mr. G. HIRSTasked the Secretary for Mines how many fatal and nonfatal accidents have occurred to boys of 16 years of age and under in the mines of Great Britain in 1927 and 1928, respectively?
§ Commodore KINGThe accident figures in my reply relate to boys under 16 years of age. The number of such boys killed during the year 1927 was 37, the number seriously injured 264 and the number less seriously injured 7,349.
In 1928 the number killed was 36 and the number seriously injured 268; the number less seriously injured is not yet available.
§ Mr. MARDY JONESHas the hon. and gallant Gentleman had brought to his notice the alarming increase of fatalities in collieries, whose owners employ boys to do men's work, and does that not explain the increase?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat does not arise on this question.
§ Mr. JONESOn that Ruling, I wish respectfully to point out that this question involves a very serious position, and that we, as miners' Members, are aware that there is a deliberate policy on the part of the owners to do this.
§ Mr. SPEAKERWe must confine ourselves to the actual subject matter of the question on the Paper.
§ 31. Mr. G. HIRSTasked the Secretary for Mines if there is any other country where boys under 16 years of age are not allowed to work in the mines; and, if so, what countries are they?
§ Commodore KINGI am informed that in some parts of the Dominion of Canada, of Germany, and of Czechoslovakia, boys under 16 years of age are not allowed to work underground, but I regret that I have no definite information.
§ Mr. SHINWELLIf it be good enough for foreign countries, why is it not good enough for this country?
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYAre we not able to follow the example of our great Dominion of Canada in this matter?
§ Commodore KINGIt is only in some parts. There is no general rule.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYThen could we not follow the example of those parts?
§ Mr. HARDIECan the Secretary for Mines give us the reasons for not employing boys in those countries?
§ Commodore KINGI could not give them.
§ Mr. HARDIEWill the hon. and gallant Member take the trouble to find out why, in the cases he has mentioned?