§ MR. FENWICK (Northumberland, Wansbeck)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he can now state when the Mines Inspectors' Reports will be available to Members? Whether it is a fact that these Reports have been in the possession of the Government since March last? And, whether he will take such steps as may be necessary to ensure an earlier issue of these Reports next Session?
§ MR. MATTHEWSThe final proofs of the Mines Inspectors' Reports have been in the printers' hands for more than a week, and I hope the Reports will be ready for issue in the course of a day or two. The Reports have been in possession of the Government since March last; but when the manuscripts were in course of being set up it was decided for the purposes of economy and convenience to alter the usual manner of printing and presenting the Reports, and this has led to a considerable delay. I will do all I can to secure an earlier issue next Session.
§ MR. HOWELLWould it not be possible to give a summary of these Reports earlier in the Session?
§ MR. MATTHEWSI am afraid that that would be throwing on the Inspectors an additional amount of labour beyond the scope of their ordinary duty; but I will consider the suggestion of the hon. Member.