THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. CHILDERS) (Edinburgh, S.), in moving for leave to bring in a Bill for the Regulation of Coal Mines, said, that at that hour of the morning (2 o'clock) the House would scarcely desire that he should enter into a lengthened explanation of the provisions of the Bill. He would, therefore, simply state that the object of the Bill was simply to consolidate the laws already in existence relating to the regulation of coal mines, and also to carry out some of the recommendations 1406 of the Royal Commission which sat recently upon the subject, most of which met with the approval of the miners themselves.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That leave be given to bring in a Bill for the Regulation of Coal Mines."—(Mr. Secretary Childers.)
§ SIR R. ASSHETON CROSS (Lancashire, S.W., Newton)expressed a hope that the Bill would be in the hands of Members as soon as possible. He would like to know whether the Bill dealt with all the recommendations of the Commissioners?
MR. CHILDERSThe Bill, which will be in the hands of hon. Members in the course of a day or two, deals with the recommendations of the Commissioners.
§ MR. TOMLINSON (Preston)I hope the right hon. Gentleman will not fix the second reading for too early a day, so that hon. Members may have a proper opportunity for considering the nature of the provisions included in the Bill.
MR. CHILDERSAfter the Bill is in the hands of hon. Members I propose to give a full explanation of the nature of its provisions.
§ Motion agreed to.
§ Bill ordered to be brought in by Mr. Secretary CHILDERS and Mr. BROADHURST.
§ Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 217.]