MR. EDWARDSsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether he proposes to introduce any measure during the present Session to secure the more efficient inspection of Collieries and their workings, with the view of preventing the recurrence of such lamentable sacrifice of life as attended the late accidents at Barnsley and elsewhere?
§ MR. WALPOLEsaid, in reply, that last Session there was appointed upon this subject a Select Committee which did not complete its inquiry. As soon as the recent lamentable accidents occurred he directed the Inspectors to meet in order to see if they could make any suggestions that would be of use in the further investigations of that Select Committee. He had further directed two Inspectors, Messrs. Blackwell and Dickenson, to report upon the two recent lamentable accidents. He had received the Report of one, but he had not received that of the other. He proposed to refer both Reports to the Select Committee when it was re-appointed. Until that Committee made its Report it would be premature to give a more definite answer to the Question.