§ 2. Mr. Sextonasked the Secretary for Mines the number of coal-mine explosions attributable to the use of electricity in England and Wales, and Scotland, respectively, during the last available 10 years, together with the number of fatal and non-fatal accidents arising from such explosions in each of the 10 years?
| >Accidents from Explosions caused by Electricity, at Mines under the Coal Mines Act. | |||||||||
| Year | Scotland. | England and Wales. | |||||||
| Number of Fatal Accidents. | Number of Deaths. | Number of-fatal Accidents. | Number Injured.* | Number of Fatal Accidents. | Number of Deaths. | Number of Non-fatal Accidents. | Number Injured* | ||
| 1928… | … | 3 | 5 | — | 9 | 1 | 3 | — | — |
| 1929… | … | — | — | — | — | 1 | 9 | 1 | 7 |
| 1930… | … | 1 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 1 | 2 | — | 2 |
| 1931… | … | 1 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 8 | — | 3 |
| 1932… | … | — | — | — | — | 1 | 27 | — | 36 |
| 1933… | … | — | — | — | — | 1 | 6 | — | 17 |
| 1934… | … | 2 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 |
| 1935… | … | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 | — | — | 1 | 2 |
| 1936… | … | 2 | 3 | — | 2 | 2 | 61 | 1 | 2 |
| 1937… | … | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 4 |
| Totals | … | 11 | 28 | 5 | 40 | 10 | 127 | 6 | 80 |
| * Including persons injured by explosions which proved fatal to others. |
§ 3. Mr. James Griffithsasked the Secretary for Mines the number of explosions of firedamp in the coal mines of Great Britain, France and Germany, respectively, from 1931 to 1937, with the number of lives lost in such explosions in each country; and whether he will submit this information for consideration by the Royal Commission on Safety in Mines?
§ Captain CrookshankAs the reply involves a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. SextonCan the hon. and gallant Gentleman say whether these figures warrant the abolition of this form of haulage in mines?
§ Captain CrookshankIt depends upon what one means by warranting. I think that is a matter of opinion.
§ Mr. ShinwellHave any special means been taken by the hon. and gallant Gentleman's Department to deal with the large number of accidents from this cause?
§ Captain CrookshankThat is quite another question. I am asked about the number of explosions.
§ Mr. T. SmithDo the figures show that there has been a tendency in the last few years for explosions from electricity to increase?
§ Captain CrookshankPerhaps the hon. Gentleman will study the figures for himself and make his own deductions.
§ Following is the information:
§ Captain CrookshankAs the answer to the first part of the question comprises a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate them in the OFFICIAL REPORT; and I will also communicate them to the Royal com mission.
Following are the figures: 863
Number of explosions of firedamp and the number of persons killed thereby at Coal Mines in Great Britain, France and Germany (Prussia), during the years 1931–37. Year Great Britain. France. Germany (Prussia). Number of explosion involving death. Number of persons killed. Number of explosion involving death. Number of persons killed. Number of explosions involving death Number of persons killed. 1931 … … 12 107 — — 2 18 1932 … … 13 69 — — 2 9 1933 … … 8 35 — — 2 11 1934 … … 11 296 — — 3 13 1935 … … 7 37 — — 3 25 1936 … … 9 71 Not yet available 3 32 1937 … … 13 63 Not yet available