HC Deb 22 November 1933 vol 283 cc85-6
Mr. CONANT

(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary for Mines whether he has any further information regarding a serious explosion in Grassmoor Colliery, Chesterfield, on Sunday morning last, and whether he proposes to hold a public inquiry into the causes?

The SECRETARY for MINES (Mr. Ernest Brown)

With deep regret I have to inform the House that an explosion occurred in the Deep Hard Seam at No. 8 Pit of the Grassmoor Colliery just before 2 o'clock on Sunday morning. It occurred in a conveyor face about 90 yards in length and of the 18 men mho were at work in the face at the time 14 were killed and 4 injured. The coal had been undercut during the afternoon shift on Saturday and the men were engaged at the time in extending the packs and moving the conveyor pans forward. Investigations were commenced the same day by His Majesty's Inspectors and are continuing, but I cannot make any statement at present as to the cause of the explosion. I have decided that a public inquiry shall be held by the Chief Inspector of Mines under the provisions of Section 83 of the Coal Mines Act, 1911. The House will wish me to take this our first opportunity of expressing our deep sympathy with the families and friends of those who have so tragically lost their lives.

Mr. T. SMITH

Can the hon. Member state the kind of lamps that were in use, whether they were oil or electric?

Mr. BROWN

I cannot at this moment.

Mr. SMITH

Is the hon. Member not convinced that the time has arrived when the miner ought to know that he is working in gas, by the provision of an automatic gas alarm, and will he expedite a decision on this matter?

Mr. BROWN

I think it very unwise to suggest that in this or any case, unless the circumstances have been examined, such would have been the case.

Mr. SMITH

May we have an answer as to whether the hon. Member is prepared to expedite a decision with regard to the use of an automatic gas alarm?

Mr. BROWN

The hon. Member and the House know that this is a very difficult question, which has been under consideration for years, and that the alarm itself has been all the time in a state of progression. The alarm now is not the same thing that it was even six months ago. The hon. Member cannot expect me, in answering a question of this character, to give detailed answers about that matter.