5. Mr. David Adamsasked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware of the high percentage of cures in mining accident cases at the Mansfield Centre for Rehabilitation; and whether he has considered the establishment of similar centres throughout the coalfields of the country?
§ Mr. GrenfellI am aware of the excellent work done at the Mansfield Centre of Rehabilitation in the treatment of mining accidents. This centre is the only one of its kind dealing solely with mining accident cases. Another such centre for Durham miners is now being established, towards the cost of which £10,000, or half the total outlay, has been granted by the Miners' Welfare Fund. Facilities for rehabilitation are also provided at some hospitals in mining areas and the Miners' Welfare Fund have assisted by grants for equipment. In so far as miners are prevented from returning to their former occupation they are within the scope of the Ministry of Labour's interim scheme for the training and re-settlement of disabled persons. The progress of scheme's of industrial rehabilitation is being carefully watched by my Department, and I shall do everything I can to further their development.
Mr. AdamsArising out of that satisfactory answer, is the Minister aware that under the Mansfield scheme there is a return of men to their previous occupations to the extent of 85 per cent. and that it might well be extended throughout the country?
§ Mr. GrenfellI receive reports from that institution, and I am satisfied that it is a very useful organisation which might properly be extended to all parts of the country.
§ Mr. T. SmithIn view of the excellent work being done in this locality, is this not one of the things that ought to be jointly discussed between miners and mine owners, in order that every coalfield might have an institution in a similar sense?
§ Mr. GrenfellI hope that it will be discussed jointly very soon.