BRITISH AND FRENCH MINES (STATISTICS). (Hansard, 22 March 1938)

§ Mr. J. Griffiths
asked the Secretary for Mines whether he can give comparative figures for the British and French coalfields for the years 1930 to 1937, respectively, giving particulars of the numbers

GREAT BRITAIN—MINES UNDER THE COAL MINES ACT, 1911.

Average number of persons employed. Production of Coal. Statute Tons. Death rate per 1,000 persons employed. Number of shots fired per million tons of production.

Year. Below-ground. Surface. Below-ground. On Surface.

Explosions of Firedamp or Coal Dust. Other Causes.

1930 … 748,657 194,785 243,862,100 .09 1.16 .37 217,767

1931 … 693,386 183,755 219,439,620 .16 0.98 .38 220,277

1932 … 652,018 I75,421 208,727,764 .11 1.13 .42 224,921

1933 … 625,260 172,034 207,105,847 .06 1.15 .38 233,755

1934 … 624,437 173,262 220,721,028 .47 1.13 .43 241,396

1935 … 608,316 171,186 222,236,855 .06 1.21 .51 244,664

1936 … 605,720 172,154 228,434,148 .12 1.09 .34 256,801

1937^* … 624,900 177,500 240,393,000 .10 1.15 .39 Not yet available.

^* Provisional.

1018W

§ Captain Crookshank
It is extremely difficult to relate changes in accident rates to specific causes, but I append statistics from which the hon. Member may be able to draw some conclusions. In examining these figures it should be borne in mind that they make no allowance for the changes which have been made during the period in the length of the shift.
employed, the tonnage of coal produced, the death rate from explosions and from other causes, and the number of shots fired per million tons of coal produced?

§ Captain Crookshank
The available information is as follows: 1019W

France.

Average number of persons employed.† Production of Coal (excluding lignite). Statute Tons. Death rate per 1,000 persons employed.† Number of shots fired per million tons of production.

Year. Below-ground. Surface. Below-ground. On Surface.

Explosions of Firedamp or Coal Dust. Other Causes.

1930 … 208,800 83,800 53,049,019 0.043‡ 1.015 0.632 Not available.

1931 … 195,600 80,900 49,220,889 — 0.925 0.457

1932 … 176,300 76,900 45,536,277 — 0.839 0.416

1933 … 167,900 74,900 46,146,465 — 0.840 0.507

1934 … 157,000 73,300 46,879,876 — 0.955 0.437

1935 … 147,800 71,600 45,482,687 — 1.008 0.531

1936^* … 144,900 70,800 44,514,000 0.007 0.967 0.311

1937^* … 154,600 73,800 43,618,000 Not yet available

^* Provisional figures. † Includes lignite mines.

‡ Includes 7 deaths at a lignite mine.

GREAT BRITAIN—MINES UNDER THE COAL MINES ACT, 1911.
	Average number of persons employed.	Production of Coal. Statute Tons.	Death rate per 1,000 persons employed.	Number of shots fired per million tons of production.
Year.	Below-ground.	Surface.	Below-ground.	On Surface.
	Explosions of Firedamp or Coal Dust.	Other Causes.
1930	…	748,657	194,785	243,862,100	.09	1.16	.37	217,767
1931	…	693,386	183,755	219,439,620	.16	0.98	.38	220,277
1932	…	652,018	I75,421	208,727,764	.11	1.13	.42	224,921
1933	…	625,260	172,034	207,105,847	.06	1.15	.38	233,755
1934	…	624,437	173,262	220,721,028	.47	1.13	.43	241,396
1935	…	608,316	171,186	222,236,855	.06	1.21	.51	244,664
1936	…	605,720	172,154	228,434,148	.12	1.09	.34	256,801
1937^*	…	624,900	177,500	240,393,000	.10	1.15	.39	Not yet available.
^* Provisional.

France.
	Average number of persons employed.†	Production of Coal (excluding lignite). Statute Tons.	Death rate per 1,000 persons employed.†	Number of shots fired per million tons of production.
Year.	Below-ground.	Surface.	Below-ground.	On Surface.
	Explosions of Firedamp or Coal Dust.	Other Causes.
1930	…	208,800	83,800	53,049,019	0.043‡	1.015	0.632	Not available.
1931	…	195,600	80,900	49,220,889	—	0.925	0.457
1932	…	176,300	76,900	45,536,277	—	0.839	0.416
1933	…	167,900	74,900	46,146,465	—	0.840	0.507
1934	…	157,000	73,300	46,879,876	—	0.955	0.437
1935	…	147,800	71,600	45,482,687	—	1.008	0.531
1936^*	…	144,900	70,800	44,514,000	0.007	0.967	0.311
1937^*	…	154,600	73,800	43,618,000		Not yet	available
^* Provisional figures.	† Includes lignite mines.
‡ Includes 7 deaths at a lignite mine.