CAPTAIN HEATHCOTE (Staffordshire, N.W.)asked the Secretary of 1246 State for the Home Department, If he can now state the result of his inquiry into the accuracy of the statements made by Her Majesty's Inspector of Mines in justification of his refusal to recommend James Hughes and Thomas Parker for second-class certificates, under section 80 of "The Coal Mines, &c. Regulation Act, 1887;" and, if, in the event of James Hughes and Thomas Parker proving their fitness to receive second-class certificates, and that they have been prevented from following their ordinary employmeat for six weeks in consequence of any inaccuracy or carelessness in the Reports of Her Majesty's Inspector of Mines in North Staffordshire, they will be entitled to fair and reasonable compensation for the loss in wages which they have sustained?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)The Inspector of Mines had to exercise his judgment to the best of his ability on conflicting statements of fact as to the real nature of the previous employment of Hughes and Parker which made their claim to receive second-class certificates a matter of doubt and difficulty. I have sought for further information; and upon careful consideration of all the circumstances I have come to the conclusion that Hughes and Parker may have certificates granted to them. No claim for compensation can be entertained.