§ MR. TOMLINSON (Preston)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with respect to the case of one William Shaw, who was alleged to have been dismissed without cause from his employment as fireman at the Park Mine, Tawd Vale Colliery, Skelmersdale, Lancashire, to the effect that he had directed the Inspector to make further inquiries into the case, Whether the Home Office have now received any further Report on the case; and, whe- 59 ther he can communicate to the House the substance of such Report?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)I have received a further Report from the Inspector; but it does not add much to my knowledge of the real circumstances of the case. Shaw denies that the erasure of the Report was made with his authority. On the other hand, another fireman declares that he erased the Report at the request of Shaw, three times repeated, Shaw saying that he had made a mistake as to the position of the gas. The Inspector is of opinion that the matter cannot be carried any further, and that no violation of the General or Special Rules has been committed. The examination of the mine reported by Shaw was made on a Sunday, and not before the commencement of any shift, and, therefore, was not required to be made by law. I shall be happy to show the Report to my hon. Friend if he wishes it.