HC Deb 26 July 1938 vol 338 cc2915-6W
Mr. David Adams

asked the Secretary for Mines (1) whether he will make statistics available to enable a comparison to be made on a basis of man-shifts between fatal and non-fatal accidents on conveyor faces and the total accidents at all faces in coal mines;

(2) whether he is aware that the present mode of reckoning accidents at conveyor faces in mines showing, in one division, that whereas the total output obtained from conveyor faces was 74 per cent. of the whole, these faces accounted for 83 per cent. of serious accidents, underrates the dangers of conveyor faces, since it fails to take account of the number of man-shifts worked; and what steps he proposes to take to ensure a more appropriate method of reckoning?

Captain Crookshank

Statistics about accidents are being collected in greater detail this year, and in preparing the annual report to be published next year, the suggestions of the hon. Member will be borne in mind. Some further statistical comparison between the numbers of accidents on conveyor and other faces may be possible, but as regards the accident rates it is doubtful if the available information will enable a reliable general basis of comparison to be found in the form suggested.