§ 8. Mr. Royleasked the Paymaster-General how many lives were lost in the coal mines of Great Britain in the years 1938 to 1947 and 1948 to 1957 respectively; and what were the percentages of such fatalities to the number of men employed.
§ Mr. Maudling7,354 lives were lost in the coal mining industry during the period 1938 to 1947 and 4,200 during the period 11 1948 to 1957. These figures represented, respectively, 0.1 per cent. and 0.06 per cent. per annum of the total number of men employed in the industry.
§ 9. Mr. Royleasked the Paymaster-General how many explosions took place involving more than five deaths in the mines of Great Britain in the years 1938 to 1947 and 1948 to 1957, respectively.
§ Mr. MaudlingTwenty-two and twelve, respectively.
§ Mr. RoyleIs not this a very powerful argument against the agitation going on at present against nationalisation? Do not these figures prove that since nationalisation there has been a tremendous improvement in the figures for loss of life and explosion in the mines of Great Britain?
§ Mr. MaudlingNo, they do not. I rather anticipated that supplementary question. Between 1938 and 1947, taking the percentage of persons employed, the drop was from 0.11 to 0.08, and from 1948 to 1957 the drop was from 0.06 to 0.05. As we get lower down it is of course more difficult to effect improvements, but this is not a matter in which we should have controversy about the political situation in the coal industry.
§ Mr. RoyleDoes not the total of 7,354 as against 4,200 in the later period prove conclusively that there has been an improvement?
§ Mr. MaudlingIt does not prove anything of the sort. The figures are only meaningful in relation to the number employed.