§ Mr. Parkerasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he will state the number of accidents during the last five years in the Jharia coalfield; whether the mines are regularly inspected; the number of inspectors employed; and the number of rescue brigades and equipment provided for use in the case of fire or explosion in the coalfield?
§ Mr. ButlerThe figures for fatal accidents are as follow:
1931 80 1932 66 1933 61 1934 56 1935 74 Figures for 1936 are not yet available. All the mines are inspected each year, many of them several times during each year. Since these are included in the general area which the inspectors visit, I am unable to say how many are employed in the Jharia coalfield alone. Nor have I any information as to the number of rescue brigades and equipment provided.