§ 7. Mr. Tinkerasked the Secretary for Mines whether his attention has been drawn to the number of accidents at the coal face being on the increase in proportion to the number of men employed there; and whether he will cause a special investigation to be made to find out whether it is due to the excessive noise caused through machinery which prevents the miner from sensing the danger which he would otherwise do?
§ Mr. GrenfellI have to state with regret that the rate of fatal accidents at the coal face had gone up since the war. I have been in consultation with the inspectors on a number of occasions and am unable to satisfy myself that we have found an explanation of the cause of increase. There are a number of factors operating with greater effect in war time which contribute to the higher number of deaths. A similar result was observed in 1914–1918. I am proceeding with close investigations and will give the House fuller information when we return after the Recess.