§ 30. Mr. Tinkerasked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that in some of the mines in Lancashire the temperature adjacent to the coal face is well over 100 degrees and the miners have become exhausted before the termination of the shift; and will he have the position examined so that consideration can be given to a shorter working day when the temperature rises above a given point?
§ Captain CrookshankI am aware that in one of the Lancashire mines the dry bulb temperature on two faces slightly exceeds 100 degrees Fahrenheit, but the humidity is low and the cooling power of the air current is high. As regards the last part of the question, the matter of high temperature and humidity has already been carefully examined, but in my view any question of a shorter working day should be considered in the first instance between employers and representatives of the workmen.
§ Mr. TinkerWill the hon. Member instruct His Majesty's inspectors, when making their annual report, to make a statement on the high temperatures prevailing in deep mines, so that the public may know under what conditions the miners work?
§ Captain CrookshankIt is the responsibility of the inspectors as to what they should report to me. There is a proper deep-mining committee of the Institute of Mining Engineers, which is investigating this problem.
§ Mr. TinkerIs the hon. Member aware that in the last report made by His Majesty's inspector for the northwestern division, some half dozen lines only were given to this subject? Surely it is important enough to have a more detailed report?
§ Mr. LunnHave any cases of ankylostomiasis been notified from this area as a result of these high temperatures?
§ Captain CrookshankI could not answer that offhand.