§ 26. Mr. James Griffithsasked the Secretary for Mines the number of collieries at which ignitions of firedamp have taken place in each year since 1920; and what number of collieries at which such ignitions have occurred used coal-cutting and/or conveying machines driven by electrical power?
§ Captain CrookshankWith the hon. Member's permission, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement showing the number of explosions of firedamp and coal dust involving death or personal injury and the number of these attributed to the use of electricity, which I hope will serve his purpose.
§ Following is the statement:
| Explosions of Firedamp or Coal Dust at Mines under the Coal Mines Act. | |||
| Year. | Number of separate accidents involving death or injury. | Number of separate accidents attributed to the use of electricity. | |
| 1920 | … | 91 | 1 |
| 1921 | … | 51 | 1 |
| 1922 | … | 82 | 3 |
| 1923 | … | 81 | 4 |
| 1924 | … | 95 | 2 |
| 1925 | … | 82 | 3 |
| 1926 | … | 40 | 1 |
| 1927 | … | 72 | 2 |
| 1928 | … | 48 | 4 |
| 1929 | … | 68 | 2 |
| 1930 | … | 62 | 3 |
| 1931 | … | 49 | 3 |
| 1932 | … | 50 | 1 |
| 1933 | … | 41 | 1 |
| 1934 | … | 47 | 6 |
| 1935 | … | 37 | 3 |
| 1936 | … | 40 | 5 |
§ 27. Mr. Griffithsasked the Secretary for Mines whether he will publish the report of the investigators sent to examine the comparative immunity of the French coal mines from explosion; and whether he will make copies of their report available to the House?
§ Captain CrookshankYes, Sir, as at present advised, and provided the French Government raise no objection.
§ Mr. GriffithsDoes the hon. and gallant Gentleman propose that members of the Royal Commission shall have a report of this investigation available before they complete their report, or will an opportunity be given to members of the Royal Commission to visit French mines themselves?
§ Captain CrookshankThe Royal Commission, of course, govern their own procedure, but any information which is at my disposal is at their's also.