§ Sir R. GOWERasked the Secretary for Mines whether his attention has been drawn to a paper recently read by Mr. R. L. Layfield, one of His Majesty's horse inspectors in mines, and which is printed in the July number of the Journal of the Armstrong College Mining Society; whether he will consider the many suggestions therein made for the improvement of the care and treatment of pit ponies, especially with regard to the training of ponies above and below ground, the proper training of drivers, prevention of accidents to the ponies, harness, feeding, stabling, shoeing, and the prevention of overworking of the animals, as well as other matters affecting their welfare underground; and whether he will consider holding a conference or conferences to which His Majesty's mines inspectors, special horse 57W inspectors, colliery owners, mine managers and officials, and representatives of the Miners' Federation might be invited to discuss the suggestions referred to and any other matters which might be considered useful and desirable?
§ Mr. SHINWELLThis paper is a report of one of a series of lectures by the inspectors of horses which my Department has arranged for audiences of mining men in different coalfields with a view to promoting still further improvement in the care and treatment of pit ponies. I am advised that there is a great deal of variation in local conditions and problems connected with the employment of pit ponies and I think that lectures of this kind—followed as they are by discussion and questions—are likely
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TOTAL QUANTITY of COAL produced and the Quantity available for consumption in Great Britain for the years 1913, 1922 to 1925, and 1927 to 1929. — 1913. 1920. 1922. 1923. 1924. 1925. 1927. 1928. 1929. Million Tons. Output of Coal in Great Britain. 287.35 229.42 249.61 276.00 267.12 243.18 251.23 237.47 257.91 Coal available for Consumption in Great Britain. Consumer. Gas Works (excluding the coal equivalent of gas coke exported) 16.7 16.88 15.18 15.38 16.66 16.45 16.97 16.83 16.75 Electricity Generating Stations belonging to Authorised Undertakings and to Railway and Tramway Authorities. 4.9 7.36 6.54 7.24 7.70 8.08 8.96 9.27 9.89‡ Railway Companies (for locomotive use). 13.2 13.42 12.19 13.33 13.51 13.36 13.58 13.05 13.41 Vessels engaged in the Coastwise Trade (bunkers). 1.9 1.28 1.18 1.16 1.27 1.16 1.18 1.24 1.37 Iron Works (pig iron) 21.2 18.80 9.51 14.41 14.23 12.03 13.45 12.17 14.18‡ Other Iron and Steel Works.* 10.2 11.82 8.00 11.29 10.34 9.26 9.25 8.37 9.11‡ Collieries (engine fuel) 18.0 17.20 16.25 16.85 16.57 15.42 14.55 13.50 13.69 Domestic Coal (approx.)(including miners' coal). 40.0 40.00 40.00 40.00 40.00 40.00 40.00 40.00 40.00 General Manufacturers and all other purposes.† 57.7 53.96 48.91 49.10 60.08 53.81 61.60 49.43 55.10 TOTAL 183.8 180.72 157.76 168.76 180.36 169.57 179.54 163.86 173.50 * These figures cover only the coal, or its equivalent in coke, used in the manufacture of products coming within the purview of the National Federation of Iron and Steel Manufacturers by whom the figures wore supplied. †These residuary figures are subject to the changes in the stocks of coal held by producers and consumers as to which information is not available generally. Except in abnormal years the adjustments necessary on this account are believed to be negligible. The same considerations apply to the total consumption figures. ‡Provisional figures. to yield more fruitful results than large-scale general conferences of the kind I understand the hon. Member to suggest.