MR. ALLENasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If his attention has been called to the depositions taken by the coroner at an inquest held on the body of Edward Barnes, who died in consequence of burns received from an explosion of gas in the Park Hall Colliery, near Cheadle; and, whether he intends to order the prosecution of Thomas Birt, the fireman of the pit, for a breach of the Coal Mines Regulation Act, in not properly examining the pit before sending in the men to work?
MR. ASSHETON CROSS,in reply, said, that proceedings would be forthwith taken under the Coal Mines Regulation Act. The only reason why proceedings had not been taken by the Inspector before was that, unfortunately, 1977 another man was seriously injured, and it was expected that another coroner's inquest would be necessary. If such an event occurred, he would take care that the Home Office was represented at that inquiry.