HC Deb 07 December 1937 vol 330 cc193-4
38. Mr. Tinker

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of collieries that are substituting for shot-firing other methods of getting down coal; and what progress is being made in eliminating shot-firing?

Captain Crookshank

Such devices as Cardox and Hydrox and the hydraulic burster are in general use at some 20 collieries, and are being tried out at a number of others. The use of pneumatic picks is also progressing, the number in use for coal getting having risen from 934 in 1928, at 78 mines, to 6,464 in 1936 at 234 mines, and the quantity of coal so mined, from little more than 1,000,000 tons to 11,750,000 tons. It has been found possible to eliminate shot-firing altogether at some mines, and the mines inspectors are giving this movement every encouragement.