§ MR. ARTHUR O'CONNOR (Donegal, E.)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the accident which happened at the Udston Colliery, in Lanarkshire, whereby a large number of lives were lost and a very large number of persons were injured, What is the constitution of the Board of Inquiry which is to be appointed to investigate the circumstances; and, secondly, whether there are any means known to the Home Office by which the magnificent heroism which has been displayed by the rescuing party will be properly recognized? He would also ask, whether the right hon. Gentleman could inform the House when the Coal Mines Regulation Bill was likely to be reached?
§ MR. S. MASON (Lanark, Mid)I intended to have myself asked the right hon. and learned Gentleman the Question which has now been put by the hon. Member; and I wish to impress on the Government the necessity—[Cries of "Order, order!"]—of the Coal Mines Bill being reached as soon as possible.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)With regard to the unfortunate accident at Udston Colliery, to which the hon. Member alludes, I immediately directed that an inquiry should be held the moment it was brought to my notice. That inquiry, as far as my memory serves me, will be conducted by one of the Inspectors, assisted by a Scotch barrister nominated or suggested to me by my right hon. and learned Friend the Lord Advocate as a proper person to conduct the inquiry in the most satisfactory way. With regard to the second part of the Question, that of rewarding the heroism of the relief parties, I am afraid that I have no means directly in my power of recognizing what I would so gladly recognize, except that of suggesting that those among them who have displayed the necessary amount of con- 1078 spicuous gallantry should be awarded the Albert Medal of the first or second class according to the circumstances. I have not yet had before me any details as to the conduct of these gallant men, but I am aware generally that there has been very great bravery displayed by the rescuing party throughout. With regard to the Coal Mines Regulation Bill, it stands at present for the 9th of June; but I am afraid that I am not in a position to say whether it will be proceeded with at that date. I will, however, endeavour to give the hon. Member the information he desires upon the point to-morrow.
§ MR. ARTHUR O'CONNORasked, whether the Board of Inquiry would have power to inquire into the Reports of Inspections of the mine in question which had been made for some time anterior to the accident, not only by Her Majesty's Inspectors, but also by the subordinate officials connected with the management of the colliery?
§ MR. MATTHEWSI should like to refresh my memory by reading the section of the Act before I answer this Question; but whatever the law enables me to inquire into shall be inquired into. For the satisfaction of the hon. Member I may say that, at the request of the workmen, I desired that the Inspector should allow two representative workmen to accompany him in the inspection made at the pit with the view of ascertaining the cause of the accident.
§ MR. TOMLINSON (Preston)Will the Inspector who is to conduct the inquiry be the Inspector for the district in which the colliery is situated, or an Inspector taken from some other district; and, will there be given, in the course of the investigation, an opportunity of inquiry into the allegations that have been made, that on some of the bodies of the men were found the means of opening their safety lamps?
§ MR. MATTHEWSI have already stated that the inquiry shall be the fullest that the law permits; but not having the terms of the section of the Act in my memory I am unable to answer definitely the Questions put to me. As regards the Inspector who shall hold the inquiry, it appears desirable that it shall be conducted by some other Inspector rather than by the Inspector of the district.