§ Mr. Blackburnasked the Minister of Fuel and Power what arrangements have been made by the National Coal Board to introduce fluorescent lighting on an' experimental basis into coal mines in this country; and whether he will give further particulars about its development.
§ Mr. GaitskellThe National Coal Board have undertaken investigations into the underground application of fluorescent lighting and experiments are at present concentrating upon its application to the coal face. Two types of installation are available. The first type is operated by the normal colliery electricity supply. Arrangements, originally started by the Ministry and subsequently taken over by the National Coal Board, have been made to introduce nine installations of this type in different collieries. The first is already operating at Chislet Colliery in Kent, and it is hoped that another will shortly be put in at Birch Coppice Colliery in Warwickshire. The remaining seven will be installed as soon as the manufacturers can supply the equipment. The second type of installation is pneumatic-electric, a system in which each lamp has its own air-turbo generator driven by the colliery compressed air supply. A pneumatic installation is now operating at Chislet Colliery.
Preliminary results from both types of installation are encouraging, but they are essentially experimental. The present extended tests are designed to find the solution to certain technical, economic and operational problems. Once these problems have been solved, it should be possible to make a realistic assessment of the merits of fluorescent lighting at the coal face.
Elsewhere than at the face fluorescent lighting has been in operation at the pit-bottom for some time in two collieries.
98WIts further introduction is being carried out as and when circumstances permit and supplies of equipment can be obtained.