HC Deb 01 July 1954 vol 529 cc1582-3

Amendments made: In page 36, line 35, after "by," insert "section fifty of."

In line 37, leave out "section fifty of this Act," and insert "that section."—[Mr. Joynson-Hicks.]

Mr. Joynson-Hicks

I beg to move, in page 37, line 23, at the end, to insert: Provided that no exemption shall be granted by regulations made by virtue of this subsection unless the Minister is satisfied that no persons employed in mines of the class to which the regulations apply will be exposed to undue risk in consequence of the granting of the exemption, and no exemption shall be granted under this subsection by an inspector in the case of any mine unless he is satisfied that no persons employed in that mine will be exposed to undue risk in consequence of the granting of the exemption. This provision deals with ventilation, and this Amendment is in response to an undertaking which my right hon. Friend gave in Committee to ensure that exemptions, whether by regulation or notice by an inspector, shall only he granted when the Minister or the inspector is satisfied that no undue risk will result. I think this Amendment achieves that object and meets the point.

Amendment agreed to

6.45 p.m.

Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd

I beg to move, in page 37, line 25, at the end, to insert: or, except with the consent of an inspector, to release in a mine compressed air for the purpose thereby of diluting or removing inflammable or noxious gas. This Amendment gives effect to an undertaking that I gave in Committee on a point which was raised by the hon. Members for Ince (Mr. T. Brown) and for Houghton-le-Spring (Mr. Blyton) that we should not allow the use of compressed air for improving bad ventilation.

Amendment agreed to.