§ 37. Mr. POTTSasked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that for the year 1934 Yorkshire Barnsley seams mechanisation tonnage inflicted 162 compensatable accidents per 100,000 manshifts on machine faces as against 133 on hand-worked faces; and how does he account for this high accident variation, especially having regard to the continuous fall in the number of employés?
§ Captain CROOKSHANKThese figures are specially given, and their significance discussed, in the annual report of the divisional inspector for 1935, recently published. It is there stated that the higher accident rate of 162 for 1934 relates only to Barnsley Bed Seams, then recently mechanised, and that the corresponding rate for 1935 was much lower at 134, the implications being that the temporarily higher rate may have been due to lack of experience of the new methods of working and that eventually, as for other seams in the division, the accident rate may become lower for mechanised than for hand-worked faces. 237 A variation in the number of persons employed is not relevant to this comparison of accident rates per 100,000 shifts worked.
§ Mr. D. L. DAVIESWhat is the experience in 1936; is there any improvement?
§ Captain CROOKSHANKI could not say without notice. The figures are made up only from time to time.
§ Mr. POTTSThe figure which the Minister has given to the House for 1935 is a normal figure, but the 1934 figure is abnormal; can the Minister account for it?
§ Captain CROOKSHANKI have answered that question. If the hon. Member reads carefully what I have said, he will find that I have in mind.
§ Mr. T. SMITHIn order that we may have data from which proper conclusions may be drawn, will the hon. Gentleman arrange for separate compilations of statistics, first with regard to hand operation, secondly with regard to machine work?
§ Captain CROOKSHANKI do not know whether that is practicable, but I will certainly consider it and will let the hon. Gentleman know.
§ 41. Mr. SHORTasked the Secretary for Mines how many accidents due to underground haulage occurred in the mines of England and Wales during 1935; whether such haulage conditions are a prolific cause of accidents; and, if so, what steps are being taken to remedy the evil?
§ Captain CROOKSHANKThe answer to the first and second parts of the question is that the number of persons killed or injured by haulage accidents belowground at mines under the Coal Mines Act in England and Wales in 1935, was 31,002, and that this figure represents 28 per cent. of the total number of persons killed and injured by accidents below-ground. It would be impossible to deal adequately by way of question and answer with the point raised in the third part of the question in regard to 238 which I must refer the hon. Member to the published official reports, including those of His Majesty's inspectors and the Safety in Mines Research Board.
§ 42. Mr. SHORTasked the Secretary for Mines how many accidents due to conveyors occurred in the mines of England and Wales during 1935; and whether there is sufficient evidence to justify the view that the installation of conveyors reduces the risk of accident?
§ Captain CROOKSHANKThough no precise figures have been taken out, the number of accidents due to the conveyor as a machine is quite small. The more important matter is the effect on the accident rate of the changes in the methods of working which are often associated with the use of conveyors, and that question, on which there is some conflict of evidence and opinion, is one of the most important of those now being studied by the Royal Commission on Safety in Mines.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODAs there is so much mechanisation going on in the mines of this country, second to nothing in the world, is the Minister satisfied that every precaution is taken to safeguard the lives of the miners working underground?
§ Captain CROOKSHANKYes, Sir, every precaution is taken, and what is now being considered is whether any further precaution can be taken; and if so, what.