§ Mr. P. Freemanasked the Minister of Fuel and Power the number of boys under 16 and between 16 and 18 years of age employed below ground in mines who were injured and off work for more than three days in each year from 1938 to 1945; the number injured per 1,000 in each division; and how these rates per 1,000 compare with the rate for all ages employed below ground.
§ Mr. ShinwellI will send my hon. Friend the information he requires.
§ Mr. P. Freemanasked the Minister of Fuel and Power if the statement in the Reid Report relating to the accident rate to boys engaged on rope and pony haulages in mines is still true; if there has been an improvement since the Report was published; and whether he will consider giving more careful and longer training to boys employed on these hazardous tasks.
§ Mr. ShinwellThe total accident rate to boys employed on rope and pony haulages in mines is, I regret, relatively high, though I am glad to say that the rate for 205W fatal accidents shows a declining tendency in the last few years. The report to which my hon. Friend refers was published in March, 1945, and statistics for the year 1945 are not yet available. Since the 1st February, 1944, all boys starting employment below ground have been required to have adequate training under the provisions of the Coal Mining (Training and Medical Examination) Order, 1944, and the scope of these requirements will be considerably extended by the Training Regulations made on 28th September, 1945.