§ 62 and 63. Mr. GODFREY NICHOLSONasked the Secretary for Mines (1) the number of fatal accidents and nonfatal accidents in coal mines during the period 1922 to 1931, inclusive, and during 1932, respectively; and the proportion of those accidents attributable to explosions, falls of ground, and haulage;
(2) what sums were allocated for safety in mines research during the period 1922 to 1931, inclusive, and during 1932, respectively; and the proportion in which these sums have been applied towards research into the various classes of accident?
§ Mr. E. BROWNAs the replies involve tabular statements, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate them in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. NICHOLSONWill the hon. Gentleman take steps to urge upon the responsible authorities that more money should be applied to research into those causes which result in the greater proportion of accidents?
| Number of Persons Killed and Injured by Accidents at Mines under the Coal Mines Act, 1911. | ||||||||
| Place or Cause of Accident. | Number of Persons Killed. | Number of Persons Injured.* | ||||||
| 1922 to 1931. | 1932. | 1922 to 1931. | 1932. | |||||
| Number. | Proportion of Total. | Number. | Proportion of Total. | Number. | Proportion of Total. | Number. | Proportion of Total. | |
| Per cent. | Per cent. | Per cent. | Per cent. | |||||
| Explosions of Firedamp or Coal-dust. | 521 | 5.0 | 69 | 7.8 | 996 | 0.1 | 109 | 0.1 |
| Falls of Ground | 5,199 | 49.7 | 444 | 50.4 | 573,322 | 34.1 | 44,824 | 35.6 |
| Haulage Accidents | 2,276 | 21.8 | 174 | 19.8 | 418,381 | 24.9 | 34,595 | 27.5 |
| Other Accidents Belowground. | 1,524 | 14.6 | 121 | 13.7 | 554,850 | 33.0 | 36,878 | 29.3 |
| On Surface | 933 | 8.9 | 73 | 8.3 | 133,439 | 7.9 | 9,468 | 7.5 |
| Total | 10,453 | 100.0 | 881 | 100.0 | 1,680,988 | 100.0 | 125,874 | 100.0 |
| * In 1924 and subsequent years accidents which disabled the person injured for more than 3 days were reportable, the limit in 1922 and 1923 being 7 days. |
| SAFETY IN MINES RESEARCH BOARD. | |||||
| Summary of Expenditure by Research Subjects. | |||||
| — | Ten years ended 31st March, 1932. | Year ended 31st March, 1933. | |||
| A. Researches: | £ | £ | |||
| 1. Coal Dust Explosions | … | … | … | 46,139 | 3,860 |
| 2. Firedamp Explosions | … | … | … | 54,129 | 4,606 |
| 3. Spontaneous Combustion | … | … | … | 29,978 | 1,955 |
| 4. Electrical | … | … | … | 13,371 | 1,435 |
| 5. Explosives | … | … | … | 71,363 | 5,364 |
| 6. Falls of Ground | … | … | … | 29,810 | 9,930 |
| 7. Haulage | … | … | … | 920 | 2,081 |
| 8. Wire Ropes | … | … | … | 13,994 | 2,909 |
| 9. Health | … | … | … | 20,663 | 1,659 |
| 10. Safety Instruction | … | … | … | 5,101 | 2,816 |
| 11. Other Researches | … | … | … | 10,789 | 744 |
| *General Expenditure | … | … | … | 158,628 | 20,340 |
| Totals | … | … | … | 454,885 | 57,699 |
| †B. Capital Expenditure met entirely from Grants from Miners' Welfare Committee. | 87,661 | — | |||
| *This includes the general overhead and maintenance costs of the two Research Stations, including the salaries and wages of the administrative, secretarial and manual staffs, and common services for all researches. | |||||
| † This represents the cost of erection and equipment of the Research Stations. |
§ Mr. BROWNIf the hon. Member will read these long tables carefully he will see that in recent years that has been happening.
§ Following are the tables: