§ MR. MACDONALDasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If, in compliance with the recommendation of the Commissioner who on part of the Home Office attended the inquiry into the cause of the Pen-y-Graig explosion, whether he will, in addition to the action which has been taken to deprive the manager of his certificate, order a further prosecution against the manager and one or more of the proprietors to be instituted for the various breaches of the general and special rules as pointed out by the Commissioner in paragraph 6 of his Report?
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURTAs the hon. Member is aware, proceedings are now pending which may result in depriving the manager of his certificate, which in itself would be a very severe punishment. The question of the pro- 1658 secution of either the manager or the owners of the mine has been very carefully considered, and it has been thought that, the chances of a conviction in the circumstances being very small, such prosecutions will not be undertaken.