§ Mr. J. Griffithsasked the Secretary for Mines whether he can make a statement as to the progress that is being made in the provision of pithead baths; and what is the extent of the building programme for this and the next year?
§ Mr. LloydDuring 1938 47 new pithead bath installations and six extensions accommodating nearly 56,000 persons were completed, and at the end of that year pithead baths had been provided, or were under construction, for 416,886 persons at 334 collieries, and the available money had been nearly exhausted. The building programmes for 1939 and 1940 will be framed on the basis of the additional money available as the result of the Mining Industry (Welfare Fund) Act, 1939, and provisional arrangements have been made to place contracts in 1939 for 37 new bath installations accommodating 35,548 persons. The contracts to be placed in 1940 have not yet been settled, but it is estimated that they will provide accommodation for 45,000 additional persons.