§ MR. KEIR HARDIEI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, to whom I have given private notice of the question, whether a public inquiry will be granted in the case of the Woodyett's colliery explosion, whereby two men were killed and two injured; and whether, pending the inquiry, John Hamilton, who has been arrested in connection with the explosion, will be released?
§ MR. ASQUITHYes, Sir; I have ordered a public inquiry to be held in the case of the Woodyett's colliery explosion. With regard to the other part of the hon. Member's question, it had better be addressed to the Lord Advocate.
§ *MR. J. B. BALFOURWhen my right hon. Friend decided that a public inquiry should be held in regard to the explosion, I directed that the Procurator Fiscal should intimate to the law agent of John Hamilton that if he desired an adjournment of the trial, pending the public inquiry, this would be assented to on the part of the Crown, and that in the meantime Hamilton should be released from prison on such bail as he could find.