Written Answers
Unemployment (Hutment Camps)
asked the Minister of Labour what method will be followed in recruiting unemployed men for the camps, such as that which is being established at Kielder; and what will be the terms of recruitment and the duration of any one period of camp residence?
The men admitted to these hutment camps are selected from unemployed men from the depressed areas, between the ages of 18 and 35 (or in exceptional cases up to 45) who apply voluntarily for the course, which is of about 12 weeks' duration. Before admission they are medically examined, without charge to them.
Coal Industry
Horses And Ponies
asked the Secretary for Mines whether he has satisfied himself that the systems of stable ventilation in mines are generally suitable for the provision of fresh air throughout; whether periodic tests are made of the purity of the air used for underground stable ventilation; and whether suitably regulated air inlets and outlets, the former entering low down from the rear of the stalls, through perforations in the back wall behind every third or fourth stall, and the latter placed at every third stall, near the roof and above the heads of the horses and ponies, are provided in all large stables in order to allow an even distribution of the air to each animal?
The law does not prescribe any particular method, but requires that the stables shall be continuously and thoroughly ventilated with intake air. From the many inspections made I am satisfied that this requirement is sufficient and that it is complied with.
asked the Secretary for Mines whether fully qualified head horse-keepers are employed in all colleries where numbers of horses and ponies are used below ground; the nature of the training and qualifications required by such head horsekeepers; whether, in practice, they may be over-ruled by under-managers or other mine officials in any respects; and whether he will consider the desirability of recommending to colliery owners that head horsekeepers shall be given adequate powers in all matters relating to animals employed underground?
It is the general practice for head horsekeepers to be employed in collieries employing considerable numbers of horses. Whether such appointments are made or not rests with the managers concerned; there are no statutory provisions relating to the standard
| Haulage Accidents at Mines under the Coal Mines Act. | ||||||||
| Year | Total Number of Persons. | Number of Boys under 16 years of age | ||||||
| Killed | Injured | Number killed and injured. Per 1,000,000 tons of mineral raised | Killed | Injured | Number killed and injured. Per 1,000,000 tons of mineral raised | |||
| North Staffordshire. | ||||||||
| 1930 | … | … | 8 | 856 | 146·1 | — | 56 | 9·5 |
| 1931 | … | … | 6 | 690 | 128·4 | — | 31 | 5·7 |
| 1932 | … | … | 4 | 650 | 114·5 | — | 17 | 3·0 |
| Derbyshire. | ||||||||
| 1930 | … | … | 15 | 2,276 | 155·5 | 1 | 308 | 21·0 |
| 1931 | … | … | 9 | 2,377 | 176·5 | 3 | 261 | 19·5 |
| 1932 | … | … | 11 | 2,076 | 165·0 | — | 235 | 18·6 |
| Leicestershire. | ||||||||
| 1930 | … | … | 2 | 301 | 108·2 | — | 17 | 6·1 |
| 1931 | … | … | 2 | 257 | 97·4 | — | 16 | 6·0 |
| 1932 | … | … | — | 251 | 102·9 | — | 16 | 6·6 |
| Nottinghamshire. | ||||||||
| 1930 | … | … | 11 | 2,134 | 146·9 | 3 | 246 | 17·1 |
| 1931 | … | … | 10 | 2,135 | 147·9 | — | 238 | 16·4 |
| 1932 | … | … | 10 | 2,031 | 150·4 | 2 | 161 | 12·0 |
| Note—Particulars of the number of shifts worked on haulage operations are not available. | ||||||||
| Comparisons between one district and another are affected by natural conditions in the mines and by the organisation of haulage work, e.g., kind of haulage employed, proportion of boys and adults employed on this work, etc. In particular, there is no relation between the tonnage raised and the number of boys employed. | ||||||||
of competency required. I am not aware that head horsekeepers are interfered with by other officials of the mine in the proper discharge of the duties allotted to them, or that their powers to perform their duties are inadequate. If the hon. Member knows of any specific instances in which this is alleged to be the case, I shall be obliged if he will bring them to my notice.
Haulage Accidents
asked the Secretary for Mines the number of fatal and non-fatal accidents to persons employed below ground arising out of haulage arrangements in relation to man-shifts worked and each million tons of output during the past three years in North Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, and Nottinghamshire, respectively; and the rates of such accidents for boys under 16 years of age enga´ged in haulage work?
The information, so far as it is available, is as follows:
Liberia (Slavery)
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if any action is contemplated by His Majesty's Government to expedite the cessation of slavery in Liberia?
The Liberian Government have passed the necessary laws for the abolition of slavery. If, as I hope, the League of Nations Plan of Assistance is accepted by the parties concerned, it will be for the foreign officials appointed under the plan to see that these laws are effectively enforced.