§ MR. MACDONALDasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, If, in view of the terrible loss of life in the mines of the United Kingdom, the Government contemplate taking any more active steps for seeing the Mines Regulation Act strictly enforced; or if they purpose to 1144 introduce without delay any measure containing additional precautions that may be necessary for the protection of the lives of those employed in mines?
MR. ASSHETON CROSSPerhaps the hon. Gentleman will allow me to answer the Question, as it more immediately concerns the Department over which I preside. I deeply regret—as I am sure everyone must—the serious loss of life which has just occurred in this dangerous employment; but no one knows better than the hon. Member himself that the loss of life has very greatly diminished since the appointment of Inspectors of Mines. He asks whether the Government contemplate taking any more active steps for seeing the Mines Regulation Act strictly enforced. I have myself within the last six weeks seen every one of the Mine Inspectors to ascertain what measures could be taken; and I am surprised that this Question should be put, because I told the hon. Member only two weeks since that a series of regulations had been framed for the purpose of guiding the Inspectors in such cases. I do not think it necessary to introduce any further measure of a more stringent character, because I believe the present Act is working great good at the present moment.