50. Mrs. SHAWasked the Secretary for Mines whether he has any information regarding the flooding at Woodhall Colliery, Calderbank, Lanarkshire, the result of which caused the death of two men?
§ Mr. E. BROWNI have had a preliminary report on the inrush of water which occurred in the South Lower Drumgray section of the Woodhall No. 3 Colliery, on 29th April, and I deeply regret that it resulted in the loss of two lives, in spite of gallant efforts on the part of the undermanager and others to rescue the men concerned. The workings in the section affected were advancing between wastes on either side; the rise side of the workings was keeping in touch with the waste, and water released there by means of a bore hole was being carried away as the workings progressed. The cause of the sudden inrush cannot yet be determined. The water has been pumped out and the work of clearing the debris is proceeding; I shall receive a full report on the occurrence when that work is complete.
§ Mr. G. GRIFFITHSCan the Minister say whether they were carrying out regulations of the Coal Mines Act with bore holes when the accident occurred?