§ MR. THOMAS ELLIS (Merionethshire)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether and how far the recommendations of the Merionethshire Mines Committee have been adopted and put into operation?
§ SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEYA large and important part of the recommendations of this Committee has reference to improved methods of working, the adoption of which is voluntary on the part of the owners, and to such matters as the health, food, clothing, houses, etc., of the workmen. How far these recommendations have been carried out I cannot say, but by distributing the Report and having it translated into Welsh, the Home Office has done all it can to bring these matters to the knowledge of the persons concerned, and the inspectors have constantly pressed them upon the mine owners. Of the other recommendations some require legislation and must wait until time can be found to amend the Metalliferous Mines Acts; 1055 but others can be carried out by means of special rules, and the chief inspector is now endeavouring to secure their adoption.