§ 39. Mr. EDWARDSasked the Secretary for Mines what is the percentage both of fatal and non-fatal accidents at Bedwas Colliery, Monmouthshire; and how do these percentages compare with those for the South Wales coalfield as a whole?
§ The SECRETARY for MINES (Mr. Ernest Brown)The figures are being got out and if the hon. Member will be good enough to repeat his question next Tuesday, I shall then be able to reply.
§ 40. Mr. EDWARDSasked the Secretary for Mines how many notifiable accidents have occurred at the Bedwas Colliery, Monmouthshire, during the immediately preceding 12 months?
§ Mr. BROWNDuring the 12 months ended 1st June last, the number of nonfatal accidents reported forthwith to the divisional inspector was sixteen.
§ 41. Mr. EDWARDSasked the Secretary for Mines how many fatal accidents have occurred at the Bedwas Colliery, Monmouthshire, during the immediately preceding 12 months?
§ Mr. BROWNThe number of fatal accidents at this colliery during the 12 months ended 1st June last was six.
§ 42. Mr. DAVID DAVIESasked the Secretary for Mines what is the number of inspections undertaken by His Majesty's inspector at the Bedwas colliery, Monmouthshire, during the 12 months ended the 1st June, 1934?
§ 43. Mr. D. DAVIESasked the Secretary for Mines the number of inspections carried out by the workmen's inspectors, appointed under Section 16 of the Coal Mines Act, 1911, at the Bedwas colliery, Monmouthshire, during the 12 months ended 1st June, 1934?
§ Mr. BROWNReports of eight such inspections have been communicated to the Divisional Inspector of Mines in pursuance of Section 16 of the Act.
§ 44. Mr. D. DAVIESasked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that 4d. per week is being deducted from the wages of the workmen employed at the Bedwas colliery, Monmouthshire, for the purpose of defraying the cost of examination 1290 under Section 16 of the Coal Mines Act, 1911; whether he will inquire if the money collected is used for the above-mentioned purpose; and whether the person appointed at the above-named colliery was appointed in accordance with the Coal Mines Act and regulations?
§ Mr. BROWNI have made inquiry, and I understand that certain sums are deducted from the wages of the workmen in question by virtue of an agreement between the South Wales Miners' Industrial Union and Benefit Society and the Colliery Company. The total deductions, including Hospital and Insurance contributions, amount in all to one shilling and a halfpenny. The proportion of this total which represents contribution to the cost of Workmen's Examiners is not fourpence but one halfpenny. With regard to the second and third parts of the question, the answer in each case, so far as my information goes, is "Yes."