§ MR. CLIVEasked the Under Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether it is still the practice of the Home Office to require periodical reports from the Inspectors of Mines as to the occupation of their time?
§ SIR HENRY SELWIN-IBBETSON,in reply, said, that the practice to which the hon. Gentleman referred was commenced in 1861; but in 1865, on a representation from the Inspectors to Sir George Grey, the practice was abandoned. The former practice was for the Inspectors to send in a report weekly; and, as it was believed that much advantage would be gained by a similar return, the Secretary of State within the last few months had put himself in communication with the Inspectors on the subject; and it would be seen, when the annual Reports were in the hands of Members, that a more ample description than hitherto was given of the way in which their time was occupied.