§ 17. Mr. TINKERasked the Secretary for Mines if he will give the accident rate among boys working in the coal mines of Great Britain, giving separate figures for Lancashire; and how this corn-pares with the accident rate for the whole of those employed in coal mines?
§ Mr. ISAAC FOOTFinal figures are not yet available, but it is estimated that in 1931 the death rate among boys under 16 years of age employed below ground at mines was 1.13 per 1,000 employed in Great Britain and 0.83 in Lancashire. The corresponding rates for all persons employed below ground were 1.14 and 0.96 respectively. Particulars for 1931 in respect of non-fatal accidents are not yet available.
§ 18. Mr. TINKERasked the Secretary for Mines if he will give the latest figures of the number of boys employed in the coal mines of Great Britain, giving separate figures for Lancashire; and will he say if this shows an increase or decrease on the figures of 12 months previous?
§ Mr. FOOTIt is estimated that in December, 1931, 20,100 boys under 16 years of age were employed below ground at mines under the Coal Mines Act, in Great Britain, of whom 1,190 were employed in Lancashire. The corresponding figures in December, 1930, were 24,400 and 1,330, respectively.
§ Mr. GODFREY NICHOLSONWill the hon. Gentleman circulate the figures of the different areas of Great Britain?
§ Mr. FOOTIf the figures are required for any particular area, I would suggest that the hon. Gentleman should put a question on the Order Paper.
§ 38. Mr. LAWSONasked the Minister of Labour the number of lads under 16 years of age in the county of Durham who commenced work in the coal mines 935 in the ls months ended 31st December, 1931; and if he has any figures showing the number of lads over 16 years of age dismissed in the same period?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONI regret that the information asked for by the hon. Member is not available.