Mr. Bernard Taylor(By Private Notice) asked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he has any information respecting the pit shaft accident at Blid-worth Colliery, Mansfield, on Sunday, 6th June, when three men lost their lives?
§ Mr. T. SmithAn accident occurred about mid-day on Sunday last at Blid-worth Colliery, Nottinghamshire, while three men were engaged in cleaning out 719 the water garlands in one of the shafts. The three men were working from a scaffold on top of the descending cage, and while they were being moved from one garland to another, the two cages collided for some reason at present unexplained, and the men were thrown off, fell down the shaft and were killed. I cannot at present give any further details, but the whole of the circumstances of this unfortunate accident are being fully investigated by the inspectors as speedily as possible. I should like to take this opportunity, however, of expressing my right hon. and gallant Friend's sympathy with the relatives of those involved in the accident.