Mines Act

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Mines Act, 1842. Parliament had already intervened in 1774 and 1799 to improve the position of Scottish miners, whose bonds were described as akin to serfdom. In the 1830s a number of investigations into coal-mines revealed the extent of truck payments, employment of women and children, and disregard of safety. The first report on the employment of children in 1842, graphically illustrated, caused a sensation. Lord Ashley (Shaftesbury) took advantage of the indignation to steer through the Mines Act (5 & 6 Vic. c. 99) which forbade the employment of women underground, and of boys below the age of 10. Though inspection remained inadequate, it was an important breakthrough in protective legislation.

J. A. Cannon