HC Deb 17 October 1939 vol 352 cc655-7
13. Mr. T. Smith

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of persons killed and seriously injured during the nine months ended 30th September, 1939, both underground and on the surface, and the various causes of the accidents?

Mr. G. Lloyd

In the first nine months ending 30th September of this year the number of persons killed by accidents at mines under the Coal Mines Act was 527, and the number seriously injured, 2,221. I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate the details in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Smith

Is this an improvement on the figure of last year, and may we have an assurance that this emergency will not be used as an excuse for weakening any legislation on safety measures which is in operation?

Mr. Lloyd

I think that everybody wants to keep up safety measures as much as possble, and the hon. Gentleman is right—there is a substantial improvement in the figure, which is 129 less than the corresponding figure of last year.

Following is the information:

Number of persons killed and seriously injured by accidents at mines under the Coal Mines Act in the nine months ended 30th September, 1939.
Place or cause. Number killed. Number seriously injured.*
Underground accidents:
Falls of Ground:
(a) At the face 234 858
(b) On roads 48 129
Haulage and Transport 123 606
Gases, Coal Dust and Fires:
(a) Explosions 15 28
(b) Others 5 1
Machinery 6 39
Other Underground Accidents. 53 350
Surface Accidents 43 210
Total 527 2,221
* Injuries which, because of their nature or severity, are, under the terms of Section 80 of the Coal Mines Act, 1911, required to be reported to His Majesty's Divisional Inspectors at the time of their occurrence.

14. Mr. J. Griffiths

asked the Secretary for Mines the number of mines closed in the last two years; the number of men last employed at those mines; how many have been abandoned; and the number temporarily closed, with separate figures for South Wales?

Mr. G. Lloyd

In the two years ended 30th September, 1939, 133 pits in Great Britain, each employing 10 or more persons at the time of closing, and in the aggregate 14,245 persons, have been closed and not re-opened. Of these 77 pits employing 7,315 persons have been abandoned. In South Wales, in the same period, 31 pits employing in the aggregate 4,956 persons have been closed and not re-opened, of which 15 pits employing 1406 men have been abandoned.

Mr. Griffiths

Will the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that there are a large number of pits which have not been abandoned and that it is possible to re-open them?

Mr. Lloyd

Yes, Sir. Pits among this class are being considered at the present time for the purpose of being re-opened.