§ 94. Mr. Harry BarnesTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received concerning the regulations governing the number of miners allowed in a heading with no separate means of egress; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. NichollsI have received no representations on the existing legal restrictions (contained in section 24 of the Mines and Quarries act 1954) on the number of miners allowed in a heading with no separate means of egress.
Comments were invited and received during consultation on the proposals for the Mines (Safety of Exit) Regulations 1988. The Health and Safety Executive conducted full and extensive consultations on these proposals which included a series of meetings with the mining industry and representatives from the mining unions. The proposals were not submitted to the House until all matters on the draft were resolved and agreed with mine management and unions.