§ Colonel Sir C. SEELYasked the Home Secretary if he can state the number of men employed underground in coal mines to whom compensation was paid on account of injuries received while at work in the year 1917?
§ Sir G. CAVEI regret that the information asked for is not available as the returns of compensation do not distinguish between underground and surface cases. The total number of cases in which compensation was paid during 1917 in respect of men employed at mines is estimated (on the basis of the returns received, which cover the great bulk of the compensation) at about 120,000. This figure includes a small proportion of cases continued from the previous year. The great majority of the cases would be underground cases.