HC Deb 01 March 1932 vol 262 cc954-6W
Sir R. GOWER

asked the Secretary for Mines what coal mines at Aberdare, Glamorgan, have been inspected by mines horse inspectors during the last 12 months; whether in any and, if so, in which of such mines horses unfit to work have been found; what is the number of such unfit horses found in each mine, respectively; and whether work in any district of any such mine has been suspended temporarily on account of the unfit condition of the horses employed in it?

Mr. FOOT

Twenty inspections were made by horse inspectors at the 12 coal mines in the neighbourhood of Aberdare between 19th December, 1930; and 31st December, 1931; and all these mines were inspected at least once during that period. The condition of the horses was good at all except one mine, with 11 horses, where there was cause for serious complaint regarding the food and the ostler's work. Action was taken by His Majesty's inspectors, and the condition

ACCIDENT RATES per 1,000 horses and ponies employed underground at Mines under the Coal Mines Act during the year ended 30th June, 1931.
Inspection Division. Accident rate per 1,000 horses and ponies employed.
Killed or destroyed in consequence of injury or accident. Injured by accidents.
1. Scotland 30 30
2. Northern 81 81
3. Yorkshire 39 145
4. North Midland 33 200
5. North Western 14 38
6. Cardiff and Forest of Dean 32 142
7. Swansea 39 120
8. Midland and Southern 32 72
Total 33 119

Unremitting efforts to reduce these accidents are being made by His Majesty's Inspectors, in co-operation with those responsible in the mining industry, along the lines suggested by the divisional inspectors in their published reports; and special investigations have been made by the inspectors in those coalfields where the accident rates appear from the statistice to be exceptionally high. These investigations have shown that the statistics of injuries as now collected and published are not really comparable, in that slight mishaps to ponies which at some

of the horses at this mine is now satisfactory. So far as I am aware, the answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

Sir R. GOWER

asked the Secretary for Mines what are the rates per 1,000 at which horses and ponies were killed and injured underground in mines in each division, respectively, for the year ended 30th June, 1931; whether he is contemplating taking any and, if so, what steps with a view to securing a reduction in the rates in those coalfields showing a relatively high number of horses killed and/or injured; and whether he will consider the general adoption of the reforms suggested in the reports of the inspectors for the northern and other divisions for 1930 with a view to removing the cause of many of the accidents to the animals?

Mr. FOOT

The statistics are as follow:

mines and in some districts are not considered sufficiently serious to record are recorded as accidents in other mines and districts. I am considering what steps can be taken to get the statistics on a more uniform basis.