§ MR. BURTasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If his attention has been called to the long interval which in some cases elapses between the examination of the working places in coal mines and the commencement of work by the miner; and, if he can take steps to provide that the examination prescribed by the Mines Regulation Act shall be made at as short an interval as possible before the miner enters his working place?
§ MR. HIBBERTSir, this matter has always been treated by the Inspectors as one of great importance. Recently, in consequence of representations made to the Secretary of State, a Circular has been addressed to them by his order, calling upon them to ascertain and report all those coal mines where a longer interval than two hours is allowed to elapse between the inspection of the working-places and the commencement of work by the miners. There is no reason, however, to suppose that the cases in which this interval is exceeded are otherwise than rare. On receipt of the Reports, the Secretary of State will be in a position to judge what further steps may be required.