§ Mr. LAWSONasked the Secretary for Mines if he has any information concerning the accident at Pelton Fell Colliery, Durham, whereby three men lost their lives on Tuesday last by the cage falling down the shaft; and whether he proposes to have an official inquiry into this accident?
§ Mr. ISAAC FOOTI have received a preliminary report from the divisional inspector on the regrettable accident at Pelton Fell Colliery, Durham, on Tuesday last. It appears that the second outlet shaft (which is only used on rare occasions) was being used on that day by a small party of officials. During the lowering of the cage from a mid inset it caught and was suspended on the flange of a girder which supported the platform at the mid inset. The rope continued to be paid out and slack rope accumulated on the cage top and in the shaft. After a. short interval an attempt was made to2132W get over the difficulty, but before the necessary steps could be taken the cage slipped off the girder and fell to the bottom of the shaft, the three persons then in it being killed. I propose to await the report of the inquest before deciding whether any further inquiry would be of value.