§ 11. Mr. GORDON MACDONALD (for Mr. TINKER)asked the Secretary for Mines the number of explosions of firedamp causing loss of life in 1932; and on what working shift they have occurred, whether morning shift, afternoon shift, or night shift?
§ Mr. E. BROWNThe number of explosions of firedamp, since 1st January this year, causing loss of life, is 12. Four of them occurred on the night shift, three on the morning shift and three on the afternoon shift. One occurred between shifts, and the remaining one took place during repair work in a pit which was idle.
§ Sir ROBERT HAMILTONCan the hon. Gentleman say how those figures compare with the figures for previous years?
§ Mr. BROWNI have had a table taken out for the last five years. In connection with these 12 explosions, the loss of life this year was 68. In 1927 there were 11 explosions, with 70 deaths; and in 1931, 12 explosions, with 107 deaths. The House will observe that the average number of explosions for those five years was 14, while we have had 12 this year.