HC Deb 21 February 1939 vol 344 cc201-3
62. Mr. Whiteley

asked the Secretary for Mines what methods his Department is adopting to bring to the notice of the owners and workmen the advantages of the use of pit-helmets and other safety equipment?

The Secretary for Mines (Captain Crookshank)

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Consett (Mr. David Adams) on 5th July last, to which, for the time being, I have nothing to add. The matter will, of course, be one for consideration in relation to the legislative and other action to be taken on the report of the Royal Commission on Safety in Coal Mines.

Mr. Whiteley

Has the right hon. and gallant Gentleman made any inquiries as to whether the colliery workmen are prepared to assist and co-operate with him in this matter, and is he prepared to ask his inspectors to make inquiries into whether the workmen are prepared to co-operate?

Captain Crookshank

I am sure that everyone would be only too anxious to co-operate. With regard to the particular point to which the hon. Member referred, it is one of the matters which is now being considered.

Mr. Whiteley

I am rather anxious that the right hon. Gentleman should take into consideration the point I have raised and ask his inspectors to make inquiries.

Captain Crookshank

I have said that I will consider all the points.

63. Mr. Whiteley

asked the Secretary for Mines whether there have been any official tests of the P.P. safety shot-firing appliance, the Voortman safety shot-stemming plug, and the C.W. safety-stemming plug; and what conclusions have been come to?

Captain Crookshank

The P.P. shot-firing apparatus was officially tested in 1913, and under Clause 4 of the Explosives in Coal Mines Order, the removal of the stemming and the pulling out of the detonator leads from a charged shot-hole are permissible when this apparatus is used. Both the Voortman and the C.W. stemming plugs have been tested in the course of experiments carried out by the Safety in Mines Research Board on different materials and methods for stemming shot-holes. The conclusion indicated was that the use of plugs in stemming does not result in any greater safety than can be secured by suitable stemming material alone.

Mr. Whiteley

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that men are still being killed in the mines on account of blown-out shots, and that these inventions are definitely devised for preventing them? Is it not, therefore, worth while to make full inquiries to see whether they are effective or not?

Captain Crookshank

Inquiries have been made and the conclusions are as stated in my answer. As regards the first device, as far as I know none are at present in use.

Mr. E. J. Williams

Is not the Minister prepared to take some steps in this matter in view of the fact that men are being killed?

Captain Crookshank

Do not let us confuse men being killed by explosives, with the use of a particular device. All I was asked about was these devices, and the result of the experiments which have been made in regard to them is that they are no greater safeguard than when a suitable stemming material is used.

Mr. Whiteley

May I call the attention of the right hon. and gallant Gentleman to the fact that many of us have seen demonstrations of these stemming plugs and we are definitely convinced that they prevent blown-out shots? If they can do that will it not be a saving of life in coal mines?

66. Mr. James Griffiths

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is now in a position to state what new regulations he proposes to make to carry out the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Safety in Mines?

Captain Crookshank

No, Sir. The separation from the very large number of recommendations made by the Royal Commission of those which can properly be dealt with under existing powers will necessarily take some time. Though it is being dealt with as rapidly as possible it is not yet completed.

Mr. Griffiths

Can the right hon. and gallant Gentleman give any indication when he will be able to make a statement?

Captain Crookshank

I am afraid I cannot just yet. I am busy on this work all the time now.

Mr. T. Smith

Is it the intention of the Department to introduce the Bill during this Session?

Captain Crookshank

No; a reply has already been given to that question.