§ MR. MACDONALDI wish to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether he can give the House any information in regard to an explosion which is said to have taken place in the Blantyre Colliery last night? The right hon. Gentleman will recollect that a terrible disaster recently occurred in the same colliery, in which upwards of 201) persons lost their lives. Considering what then happened, I wish to know whether the right hon. Gentleman will rest satisfied with sending down a person to assist at the inquiry; or whether he will appoint a thoroughly independent 1291 set of persons to take up the whole investigation? And I would ask, further, Whether the right hon. Gentleman will lay upon the Table of the House the Report made by Mr. Dickenson, the Inspector from the Home Office, who was sent down to inquire into the last accident which occurred in the colliery?
MR. ASSHETON CROSSI regret to say that there was an explosion in this pit last night, and the account I have with regard to it is this. It originated in firedamp in one of the workings of the Blantyre Colliery at 9 o'clock last night, There were 31 men in the pit at the time, four of whom have since been got out alive, and 21 dead bodies have been reached, while the other six, who it is feared are dead, will be reached during the day. There were about 140 men underground in the colliery at the time; but the explosion did not affect the part of the works, happily, in which they were. It would be wrong to form the slightest judgment as to the accident being the result of neglect, or anything of that sort, until an inquiry has taken place; and I can only say that, after the serious accident which occurred a short time ago, the hon. Member and the House may be quite certain that, after consultation with the Lord Advocate, a most searching inquiry will be held, though what form it may take it would be impossible to say without more information; but I will communicate with the hon. Gentleman on the subject. As to the Papers asked for, I have only had this matter in my hand a very short time, and I have not yet been able to look into it; but I will look and see tomorrow whether what the hon. Gentleman asks can be done.
§ MR. MACDONALDWill the right hon. Gentleman lay before the House a statement as to the means he will adopt to investigate the accident?
MR. ASSHETON CROSSNo; I will take such action as may, in my judgment, appear necessary. If the hon. Gentleman has any fault to find with me, he can bring the matter before the House.
§ MR. MACDONALDI beg to give Notice that to-morrow I will ask the Home Secretary, Whether he has been informed that the Inspector of that district is himself a coal owner, carrying on a mine in the district?