§ Mr. SHIELD(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary for Mines whether he has any information to give the House with regard to an inrush of water at Scremerston Colliery, Northumberland, resulting in the loss of two lives?
§ The SECRETARY for MINES (Mr. Shinwell)I regret to have to inform the House that an accident occurred at this pit yesterday. I am informed that the under-manager instructed a master wasteman and another workman to explore an old water level along which normally a feeder of 40 gallons of water per minute came to the shaft. Definite information of what occurred after this is not yet ascertainable, but it seems probable that the feeder of water was blocked by some obstruction, and the men were sent to find out the cause. Apparently, shortly after they had set out—it is surmised that they had not reached 100 yards from the shaft—the obstruction gave way and a rush of water occurred. Rescue operations proceeded throughout the night but so far without success. No bodies have yet been found.