HC Deb 20 June 1939 vol 348 cc2030-1W
Mr. G. Macdonald

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can state the number of prosecutions commenced during the last 12 months by the Mines Department for breach of regulations in the coal industry; how many were successful; and how many were in connection with the working of overtime, giving separate figures for Lancashire and Cheshire?

Mr. Lloyd

The information is as follows:

Prosecutions instituted on behalf of the Mines Department during the12 months1st June,1938, to 30th May,1939, under the Coal Mines Acts.
Great Britain. Lancashire and Cheshire.
Number of collieries concerned. 10 1
Number of collieries in in respect of which there was a conviction on one or more of the charges. 7 0
Total number of charges laid—
(a) Coal Mines Act, 1911. 95 19†
(b) Coal Mines Regulation Act, 1903 (Overtime).* 24 0
Number of convictions—
(a) Coal Mines Act, 1911. 39 0
(b) Coal Mines Regulation Act, 1908 (Overtime).* 9 0
Number of charges withdrawn or not proven—
(a) Coal Mines Act, 1911. 14 0
(b) Coal Mines Regulation Act, 1908 (Overtime).* Nil 0
Number of charges dismissed—
(a)Coal Mines Act, 1911. 27 4
(b) Coal Mines Regulation Act, 1908 (Overtime).* 15 0
*In respect of one colliery,?
† Seven of these charges have been hard for four of them have been dismissed and in three cases judgment is suspended pending the hearing of the remaining 12 charges.