HC Deb 31 October 1939 vol 352 cc1753-5
Mr. Gallacher

(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can make a statement to the House on the explosion which took place at Valley-field Colliery, Fifeshire, on Saturday morning last; whether all the bodies have been recovered; and whether a full inquiry will be held into the cause of the explosion?

Mr. Lloyd

I very much regret to inform the House that as the result of an explosion about 4 a.m. on 28th October in the Diamond Seam at Valley-field Colliery, Fifeshire, 33 persons were killed and 12 injured, of whom two have since died. Nineteen bodies have so far been recovered. The cause of the explosion is not yet known, and investigation is impeded by a heavy fall of roof on the main road and by the necessity for restoring the ventilation in certain of the parts affected. Measures to clear the fall and to restore the ventilation are being taken as quickly as possible consistent with due caution, but, to protect the lives of those engaged on the work, the further recovery of bodies has been suspended in agreement with representatives of the workmen until the main road has been cleared. A full inquiry will, of course, be held, but pending the receipt of fuller information I am not in a position to decide the form which the inquiry shall take.

I am sure the House will desire to associate itself with the messages which have been sent by His Majesty The King and the Prime Minister, and to express its profound sympathy with the relatives of those who have been killed and its hope that the injured may speedily recover.

Mr. Gallacher

May I ask the Minister whether he will apply himself with all the energy he possesses to the application of every conceivable safety regulation in order, if possible, to avoid any further explosion, and will he note the spirit with which the rescue squads of volunteers went down the pit to render assistance?

Mr. Lloyd

Yes, Sir. I entirely endorse what the hon. Member has said about the behaviour of the rescue squads. In reply to the first part of his supplementary question, I may say that we are pressing on to the utmost of our ability in putting as much of the safety proposals into operation, by regulation, as soon as possible, in consultation with the Mining Association and the Mine-workers' Federation.

Mr. McLean Watson

Can the Minister state the number of gas detectors that were in operation in the mine?

Mr. Lloyd

Yes, Sir. There were 17 gas detectors in this colliery and according to present information four gas detectors in the district in which the explosion took place.