§ 47. Dr. Strossasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he can state the extent to which gas mains fracture in areas where subsidence is prevalent and marked as compared with other areas.
§ Mr. Joynson-HicksNo, Sir.
§ Dr. StrossIs the Parliamentary Secretary aware that, in areas such as Stoke-on-Trent, such fractures are at least four times as frequent as in normal areas where there is no subsidence? Can he tell the House when the considerable loss to such areas—as well as ill health and, sometimes, loss of life—will be accepted as a national responsibility and not one to be left solely to the Coal Board?
§ Mr. Joynson-HicksMy right hon. Friend is aware of no statistics that will help the hon. Member in this connection. I can tell him, however, that the loss of life from this particular cause is not very great. There were five fatalities altogether in 1953 from this cause.