§ MR. BURTasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If his attention has been called to the verdict of the coroner's jury in the Abram Col- 1930 liery explosion, and to the report of Mr. Young, who represented the Home Office at the inquiry; whether he has noticed that Mr. Young complains of the unsatisfactory nature of some of the special rules at the Colliery, and makes the following statement:—
Having heard the whole evidence, I feel bound to state that, in my opinion, a similar explosion may occur at any time, and will occur almost certainly if another outburst of gas takes place when the men are at work. I quite concur with the jury as to the unsatisfactory character of the regulations at the Colliery in question with regard to the lamps generally, and especially to the re-lighting of lamps which have been accidentally extinguished;and, whether, considering the fiery nature of the seams in the locality, he has instructed, or, if not, he will instruct the inspector of mines for the district to urge that the Mines Regulation Act be strictly enforced, and that every possible precaution be taken to insure the safe working of the Colliery?
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT,in reply, said, that he had seen Mr. Young's Report, and that instructions such as those suggested in the hon. Member's Question would be sent to the District Inspector of Mines.