asked the Secretary for Mines whether he will consider issuing regulations relating to the safety of young workers in or about the mines similar to the Order issued under the Factory Act, 1937, Form 281, under the name of Special Provisions regarding the Safety of Young Workers?
Form 281, published by the Factory Department of the Home Office, is not an Order making regulations but a memorandum giving guidance in regard to certain provisions of the Factories Act, 1937. Much has already been done in the Mining Industry to make boys better acquainted with precautions against accidents, and I would mention particularly, by way of example, the safety classes for boys. The Royal Commission has made recommendations for strengthening the existing law in this respect and these recommendations are being considered in connection with forthcoming legislation to be based on the Commission's Report.
asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is considering issuing an immediate order relating to young persons, either underground or on the surface, who have not attained the age of 16, on the same lines as the draft statutory rules and order under the Factory Act, 1937, which provides that the periods of employment for young persons under 16 years of age need not be the same as for other young persons and women employed in the factory?
The Factories Act, 1937, does not apply to mines, and there are no provisions in the present Coal Mines Act corresponding to those on which the draft order for factories is based. The question of proposing a similar order for mines does not, therefore, arise.