§ MR. KINNAIRDsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, What steps he has taken, or proposes to take, to remedy the very serious evils which have been brought to light by the evidence taken by the Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the condition of mines, and which was reported last Session.
§ SIR GEORGE GREYsaid, in reply, that the course which had been taken with respect to the Report was this. It had been thought right to confer with the Members of that Commission, several of whom were Members of that House, on the subject. On many of the points raised in the Report it did not appear possible that any legislation could take place, but there were other points on which it might be expedient to legislate, and he had accordingly called a meeting at the Home Office, when that matter was fully gone into; and it was decided by a majority of the Members of that Commission that with a view to the accomplishment of the object in question it was inexpedient that any hasty 1600 legislation should take place. It was necessary that the recommendation of the Commissioners, with respect to the county of Cornwall especially, should be more thoroughly discussed and the opinions of persons interested in mines in the locality should be obtained. That opinion, however, was not shared by his noble Friend (Lord Kinnaird) at the head of the Commission, who had proposed to introduce a Bill on his own responsibility, but for the reasons he (Sir George Grey) had stated the Government did not think it desirable to introduce any Bill during the present Session.