§ 53. Mr. Abseasked the Minister of Power whether he is aware of the en-croachment made upon rights of injured 956 miners to claim damages following upon the decision of Brown v. the National Coal Board; and whether he will introduce legislation to place an absolute duty upon mine managers to ensure that roads and working places in mines are made and left secure.
§ The Minister of Power (Mr. Richard Wood)I am aware of the decision to which the hon. Member refers, but I do not think it warrants my introducing the legislation he suggests.
§ Mr. AbseIs the Minister aware that the effect of this decision is to revert the law by some eighty years and that it has caused serious concern to the miners in South Wales? Is it not necessary for some action to be taken in order that they can be sure that they can have no less protection underground than factory workers have in a factory?
§ Mr. WoodI do not think that under present legislation miners have less protection than they had before. The question is whether it should be an absolute liability, but whether it was or not would make no difference so long as Section 157 of the Mines and Quarries Act, 1954, provides as it does for the management.