§ MR. SIDEBOTTOMasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether he has received the report of the inquest on the persons unfortunately killed in the explosion at the Astley Deep Pit Colliery in Dukinfield in April last; and, if so, whether Her Majesty's Government will give facilities for a discussion of the subject and of the Motion relative to Colliery Inspection of which Notice has been given?
MR. ASSHETON CROSS, in reply, said, that in accordance with a promise given, he instructed Mr. Wynne, Inspector of Mines for the district in which the colliery was situate, together with a neighbouring Inspector, to attend the 873 coroner's inquest, and Mr. Horatio Lloyd, a barrister of considerable experience, was also retained to watch the proceedings on behalf of the Government. The inquest had been concluded, but he had not as yet received the formal report of the coroner, nor had he had time to carefully examine the reports of all the other gentlemen he had named. He was not able, therefore, to state at present the course which Government would pursue, but he hoped to be able to do this in the course of a few days.