§ 46. Mr. J. Griffithsasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, as representing the Lord President of the Council, whether he is aware that, by the adoption and strict enforcement of a number of preventive measures, the incidence of silicosis in the Rand mines in South Africa has been reduced by 90 per cent.; and whether he will consider the desirability of arranging for those now engaged in investigating the problem of silicosis in the anthracite mines of South Wales to visit the Rand mines with a view to reporting upon the practicability of adopting those methods of prevention in the coal mines of this country?
§ The Secretary for Mines (Captain Crookshank)I have been asked to reply. Full information as to the measures taken 375 in South Africa is available in this country, and it is known that these have had substantial success under the rather different conditions prevailing there. It is, therefore, not considered desirable to arrange for a visit to the Rand by the investigators at present working for the Medical Research Council in South Wales, especially in view of the importance of avoiding any interruption of their present researches.