§ 71. Mr. KIRKWOODasked the Secretary for Mines how many and what proportion of mine workers use flame safety lamps; what steps are taken to train miners to test for gas; how many deputies reported the presence of 2£ per cent. of gas in their districts during the period January to September, 1932; and how many deputies appealed to his Department during the same period on grounds of wrongful dismissal because they carried out the regulations of the Coal Mines Act, 1911?
§ Mr. E. BROWNIt is not possible to answer the first part of the question precisely, but on 30th June last the number of flame safety lamps was 295,521, representing about 43 per cent. of the total number of safety lamps then in use; and at the same date the approximate number of underground mine workers was 648,000. The operation of testing for firedamp with a flame safety lamp is simple and readily learned and the necessary guidance is clearly given in illustrated pamphlets published by my Department. The information asked for in the third part of the question is not available or obtainable. One appeal has been made in which circumstances described in the last part of the question are alleged.
§ Mr. LAWSONHas the Secretary for Mines any information about any men who cannot use flame safety lamps?
§ Mr. BROWNI am not responsible for the hon. Member's question, and I have answered the question that was asked.
§ Mr. LAWSONHas the hon. Member any information about any miners who cannot get flame safety lamps?
§ Mr. BROWNI can only repeat what I have said before, that I cannot be responsible for the question. I have answered the question which the hon. Member put, and, if he wishes to put his question in another form, he must please put it down on the Paper.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSWill the Minister for Mines secure a return of the number of persons who work on any one day, and 522 the number who work with flame safety lamps, and, further, can he tell us approximately how many oil lamps are used on that same day and how many electric lamps?
§ Mr. BROWNThat question is rather difficult to answer, and my hon. Friend will realise that there is no real relation between the number of lamps in use and the number of underground workers on any particular day. On the date, for instance, on which the hon. Member's question was put, the number of lamps used was 686,363, or approximately 39,000 more than the number of workers in spite of the fact that there is a large unknown number of workers who use naked lights. That is accounted for by spares, deputies lamps and flame lamps used in electrically lighted pits; so the hon. Member will see that there are great difficulties in giving an answer to such a question.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSIs the Minister for Mines not aware that in a large number of collieries a very small proportion of the miners have flame safety lamps, because they prefer the electric lamps on account of the higher illumination, and that they have not the power to test for gas when working with an electric lamp?
§ Mr. WILLIAMSThen you ought to know.