§ 16. Mr. T. Smithasked the Secretary for Mines the number of persons under 16 years of age employed underground in the various mining districts at the latest date available?
§ Captain CrookshankAs the reply involves a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ The information is as follows:
| NUMBER OF PERSONS under 16 years of age employed below ground at mines under the Coal Mines Act, 1911, in each mining district of Great Britain as at 12th December, 1936. | |
| District and Number of Persons under 16 years of age. | |
| Northumberland | 1,128 |
| Durham | 2,946 |
| Cumberland and Westmorland | 82 |
| Lancashire and Cheshire | 994 |
| Yorkshire, South | 2,937 |
| Yorkshire, West | 801 |
| Nottinghamshire | 773 |
| Derbyshire, North | 712 |
| Derbyshire, South | 16 |
| Staffordshire, North | 407 |
| Cannock Chase | 300 |
| Staffordshire, South, and Worcestershire | 24 |
| Leicestershire | 25 |
| Warwickshire | 119 |
| Shropshire | 48 |
| Forest of Dean | 65 |
| Somersetshire | 38 |
| Bristol | 2 |
| Kent | 177 |
| South Wales and Monmouthshire | 4,239 |
| North Wales | 186 |
| Fife, Clackmannan, Kinross and Sutherland | 335 |
| Lothians (Mid and East) and Peebles | 137 |
| Lanarkshire, West Lothian (Linlithgow), Stirling, Renfrew and Dumbarton | 451 |
| Ayrshire, Dumfries and Argyll | 205 |
| Great Britain* | 17,207 |
| * Including particulars in respect of mines under the Coal Mines Act in Cleveland, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, which are not included above. |
17. Mr. W. Joseph Stewartasked the Secretary for Mines the number of fatal and non-fatal accidents to boys between the ages of 14 and 18 employed in the 834 mines during the night shift, from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., for the years 1934, 1935 and 1936, respectively?
§ Captain CrookshankI regret that it is impracticable to furnish the information asked for.
Mr. StewartSurely it should not be an impossible task for the hon. and gallant Gentleman to get the information?
§ Captain CrookshankI did not say it was impossible. I said it was impracticable in the time available since the hon. Member put the question down, because it is asking for a great number of figures and I understand, as I wrote to him personally, that it would involve investigating an enormous number of returns. Perhaps if he will give me a little time I will see what can be done.
§ Captain CrookshankPerhaps the most convenient way would be to let me inform the hon. Member.
18. Mr. Stewartasked the Secretary for Mines the number of fatal and non-fatal accidents to boys from 14 to 18 years of age employed in and about the mines in this country in each year from 1930 up to 1936?
§ Captain CrookshankAs the reply involves a number of figures I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ The information is as follows:
| GREAT BRITAIN. | ||
| Accidents to persons under 18 years of age at mines under the Coal Mines Act, 1911. | ||
| Year. | Number Killed. | Number Injured (disabled for more than three days). |
| 1930 | 65 | 18,044 |
| 1931 | 61 | 15,171 |
| 1932 | 52 | 12,077 |
| 1933 | 51 | 11,702 |
| 1934 | 47 | 11,937 |
| 1935 | 58 | 13,054 |
| 1936 | 55 | 14,057 |