§ Mr. FREEMANasked the Secretary for Mines whether he can give the number of mines in which no bedding is provided for horses and ponies employed below ground in each coal district; the number of mines in which bedding is provided and the kind of bedding given; and whether he will make a regulation to ensure an adequate daily supply of clean bedding for all horses and ponies in underground stables?
§ Mr. TURNERSawdust and moss litter are the materials most commonly used for bedding horses in underground stables. No statistical information is available, and I have no general information which would lead me to think that it is necessary to make a regulation to deal with the matter.
§ Mr. FREEMANasked the Secretary for Mines whether he can give the number of mares employed below ground in mines; whether he has any knowledge of foals being born below ground; and whether he will make a regulation prohibiting the use of mares underground?
§ Mr. TURNERThe answer to the first two parts of the question is in the negative. With regard to the third, I am satisfied that proper and humane supervision is already exercised, and I have no information which would lead me to think there is any necessity for such a regulation.
§ Mr. FREEMANasked the Secretary for Mines whether he can state the number of horses and ponies employed in mines which have been used underground for 10 or more years; the average working life of horses and ponies employed below ground in mines; and whether he 783W will make a regulation to prevent horses and ponies over 12 years of age being used in mines?
§ Mr. TURNERI regret that the figures asked for in the first two parts of the question are not available. With regard to the third part, the present regulations prohibit the employment of horses, whatever their age may be, immediately they become unfit for the work, and I think they are sufficient and effective.
Date. Name of Mine. County. Number of Deaths. 1900. 6 April … … Bowhill … … Fife … 1 4 May … … South Elswick … … Northumberland … 2 24 October … … Glenavon … … Glamorgan … 5 1902. 4 September … … Navigation … … Gloucester … 4 1903. 22 January … … Bunkers Hill … … Stafford … 3 27 July … … Dudley Wood … … Worcester … 4 16 November … … Sacriston … … Durham … 2 1904. 5 September … … Ffaldau … … Glamorgan … 1 28 November … … Easington … … Durham … 1 1905. 9 January … … Newdigate … … Warwick … 1 10 February … … Brandon … … Worcester … 2 15 July … … Wood Farm … … Stafford … 3 1906. 26 June … … Carradog Vale … … Glamorgan … 4 7 December … … Northfield … … Haddington … 2 1907. 14 June … … Snowdown … … Kent … 1 20 July … … Birling West … … Derby … 1 7 December … … Cwm Capel … … Carmarthen … 2 1908. 15 February … … Brereton … … Stafford … 3 27 May … … Wallyford … … Edinburgh … 2 24 August … … Burnmoor … … Durham … 1 1909. 30 April … … Aspen … … Lancashire … 1 26 October … … Leasingthorne … … Durham … 1 1 November … … Tareni … … Glamorgan … 5 10 December … … Caprington … … Ayr … 10 16 December … … Minnie … … Stafford … 1 1910. 21 January … … Polton … … Edinburgh … 2 1 March … … Himley … … Stafford … 1 7 December … … South Derwent … … Durham … 1