§ Mr. J. Griffithsasked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that the fatal accident rate in the State-owned mines of 1056W Holland was only 0.51 per cent. per thousand persons employed during the year 1936, whereas the comparable rate for the same year in the coal mines of Great Britain was 1.02 per cent.; and whether, in view of the fact that the toll of life in the State-owned Dutch coal mines is less than half that of the capitalist-owned mines of Great Britain, the Government will, in the interests of safety, purchase the coal mines of Great Britain and organise the industry as a State service?
§ Captain CrookshankI am aware of the fatal accident rates at the mines referred to. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.