§ 13. Mr. LAWTHERasked the Secretary for Mines if he will give the number of men and boys killed in the coal-mining industry for the 12 months ending June, 1931, giving the districts where such accidents took place and the ages of the boys?
§ Mr. FOOTAs the reply involves a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. LAWTHERCan the hon. Gentleman give me the ages of the boys who have been killed?
| NUMBER OF PERSONS killed from Accidents at Mines under the Coal Mines Act, 1911 (except Stratified Ironstone Mines of Cleveland, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire) during the 12 months ended 30th June, 1931. | ||||||
| District. | Number of Persons killed aged | |||||
| 14 years. | 15 years. | 16 years. | 17 years. | 18 years and over. | Total. | |
| Scotland | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 141 | 149 |
| Northumberland | — | 1 | 2 | — | 29 | 32 |
| Durham | — | — | 5 | 4 | 90 | 99 |
| Lancashire, Cheshire and North Staffordshire. | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 79 | 82 |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 140 | 153 |
| North Derby and Nottingham | — | 3 | 1 | 3 | 90 | 97 |
| South Derby, Leicester, Cannock Chase and Warwick. | 2 | — | — | — | 60 | 62 |
| South Wales and Monmouth | 3 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 181 | 198 |
| Other Districts* | — | 2 | 1 | — | 66 | 69 |
| Great Britain | 11 | 18 | 20 | 16 | 876 | 941 |
| * Including Cumberland, Westmorland, North Wales, South Staffordshire, Worcester, Salop, Forest of Dean, Bristol, Somerset and Kent. |
§ Mr. FOOTThat will be set out in the tabular statement, but I will give the hon. Member the totals, which will be included. For boys aged 14 the number in the period specified was 11; aged 15 years, 18; aged 16 years, 20; aged 17 years, 16; over 18 years, 876. That makes the total in the period named of 941.
§ Mr. LAWTHERWill the hon. Gentleman take immediate steps to make inquiries into this huge loss of young life in the mines?
§ Mr. FOOTI imagine that has always been the subject of anxious concern on the part of my predecessors. I hope to continue that policy.
§ Mr. SHINWELLCan the hon. Gentleman say whether the discussions in the Northumberland district with regard to the high rate of fatalities among boys in mines have produced any result?
§ Mr. FOOTI am not aware that any result has yet been achieved. I know that there were discussions, for which the hon. Member was largely responsible, and I hope that that policy will be continued.
§ Mr. MUGGERIDGEIn order to assist in safeguarding young lives, would it not be as well to raise the school leaving age?
§ Following is the reply: