§ Mr. Nealasked the Minister of Fuel and Power how many collieries in the North Midland Region, employing more than 1,000 men, are provided with full-meal canteens and are without pithead baths; and how many such collieries have neither of these amenities.
§ Mr. T. SmithAccording to the latest figures available, there are 4o collieries employing over 1,000 men in the North Midlands Region. Of these, 24 have both full-meal canteens and pithead baths, eight have full-meal canteens but no baths, seven have pithead baths but are without canteens supplying full meals, and one colliery has neither a full-meal canteen nor baths. The eight collieries which are without full-meal canteens have snap and snack canteens.
§ Mr. Nealasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether any arrangements have been made for the commencement of building pithead baths at the end of the war with Germany; and if priority will be given to the resumption of work on installations abandoned at the outbreak of war.
§ Mr. T. SmithArrangements have been made for the resumption of building of pithead baths on a small scale this year, and the Miners' Welfare Commission have decided that the limited supplies of labour and materials to be made available for the purpose should be used to complete installations which were left unfinished in 1940 (when the ban on building was imposed) wherever it is possible to do so and the need for the installation remains.