HC Deb 10 February 1931 vol 248 c187
10. Mr. TOOLE

asked the Secretary for Mines how many colliers have lost their lives in pit disasters during the last 20 years?

Mr. SHINWELL

For the purposes of this answer I am assuming an artificial distinction between an accident and a disaster and treating as disasters accidents in which 10 or more lives were lost. There were 22 such disasters in and about mines under the Coal Mines Act, 1911, during the 20 years 1911 to 1930, resulting in 1,070 deaths. Of these deaths 682 were caused by three disasters.

Mr. TOOLE

Can the Minister give me any figures showing how many mining royalty owners have been injured in the pits during the same period?