Mr. W. Joseph Stewartasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether he is aware that in the Durham coalmining industry during 1942, 115 miners were fatally injured; and can he give any reason for this high percentage of fatal accidents to the total of men employed?
Major Lloyd GeorgeAs compared with 1941, there were 19 more deaths from explosions, 12 more from falls of roof and side at the working face, and six more from haulage accidents. As regards explosions the increase was mainly due to an explosion at Murton Colliery in which 13 lives were lost: a special report on the causes has just been published. (Cmd. 6413.) More than half of the accidents from falls occurred at roadheads and recommendations for prevention were made in a report by the Durham Falls of Ground Advisory Committee issued and widely circulated last August. The accidents on haulage roads are receiving the special attention of the inspectors, with active assistance from both sides of the industry.