§ 3. Mr. Tinkerasked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that at the conference of delegates of Lancashire and Cheshire mineworkers, held on Saturday, 1st April, a resolution was carried calling upon colliery owners and the Mines Department to give immediate attention to the provision of more outlets on long-wall faces; that the present methods are inadequate to meet the danger arising from a weighting roof; and what steps he is taking to meet this request?
§ Captain CrookshankYes, Sir. The resolution, however, voices primarily an objection to the use of metal chock release devices, and the question of the number of exit roads from longwall faces is raised consequentially. On the first point I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given him on 28th March. The second point was dealt with in evidence to the Royal Commission on Safety, but the Commission made no recommendation in the matter, and I am advised that, in general, the limitation of the number of gate-ways on long wall faces tends to ensure greater safety from falls of ground, since a large proportion of the accidents from falls of roof at the face occur at and about gate-ends.
§ Mr. TinkerIs the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that this matter is causing great concern to mineworkers, and will he instruct the Mines Inspector to make a special report on this particular question and see what can be done?
§ Captain CrookshankI think we have all the information necessary on this question.
§ Mr. George GriffithsIs not the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that there is uneasiness on the part of the men working on these longwall faces, and that if he does not speed up legislation to deal with this matter, there will be a crash one of these days on these faces?
§ Mr. TinkerIn view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give 144 notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment.