§ 25. Mr. EDWARD WILLIAMS (for Mr. DAVID DAVIES)asked the Secretary for Mines whether his attention has been drawn to the danger arising from the accumulation of water resulting from the abandonment of collieries in South Wales; and what steps he proposes to take to deal with the matter?
§ Mr. E. BROWNThis problem receives the close attention of His Majesty's Inspectors and appropriate action in particular cases is taken whenever necessary, and I have no reason at present to apprehend that the safety of any mine worker in South Wales is endangered by accumulations of water in abandoned collieries. I should like to give careful consideration to any information on this point that the hon. Member can give me.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSMay I ask whether the hon. Member is considering any scheme in connection with this matter?
§ Mr. BROWNThe hon. Member is now raising a wider issue. The point in the question is that of danger; and I have given an answer. I shall be glad if he will put his further question on the Paper.
§ Mr. D. GRENFELLIs it not the case that the inconvenience and expense caused through the accumulation of 1644 water is due to the failure to achieve unified control in this coalfield?
§ 27. Mr. E. WILLIAMS (for Mr. DAVIES)asked the Secretary for Mines the number of collieries that have gone out of production in the South Wales coalfield since 1926 to date?
§ Mr. BROWNSince 1926, 287 coal mines in South Wales and Monmouth have been abandoned. Of these, 56 were new mines opened during this period.
§ Mr. SMITHERSCan the hon. Member say to what extent the abandonment of these mines is due to the restrictions imposed by the Coal Mines Act?