HC Deb 17 February 1879 vol 243 c1305
MR. MACDONALD

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If he can give any information as to whether the Ebbw Vale Colliery Company intend to make any further effort at present for the recovery of the two hundred and sixty bodies or thereby that yet lie in the Abercarne mine; whether it be correct that there is no law existing at present to compel owners of mines or public works of any description to make an outlay for the recovery of bodies, the lives of which may have been violently destroyed on their premises; and, whether the Government intend to take any action which would compel employers to restore, if possible, the bodies of those that may have been killed in their works, to their relatives?

MR. ASSHETON CROSS

Sir, I was informed by the Inspector, on the 25th of December, that the Chairman of the Company had stated that they could not afford to carry on further the work of recovering the bodies. I at once wrote to the Company expressing my regret at their decision, and saying I was quite sure it would cause great dissatisfaction in the district, and be very painful to the relatives of those who had been lost in the accident, and urging them to do what they could to recover the bodies. They replied that they had already spent £10,000, at great risk to the colliers employed; that to recover the bodies would take 12 or 18 months at £500 a-week; and that in justice to their constituents they could not incur the expense. The Inspector says that, in his opinion, it would require about 12 months, at an expense of £25,000 or £30,000. I have written to the Inspector again to press the Company to see what more they can do; but I have no power by law to compel them to proceed, or to furnish them with funds. All I can do is to press them, as I have done.

MR. MACDONALD

asked if the Government, considering that there was no law on the subject, would take some action to compel the restoration of the bodies to the relatives?

MR. ASSHETON CROSS

I cannot bring in a Bill to compel any Company to spend money which they have not got.