§ MR. C. FENWICK (Northumberland, Wansbeck)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether, having regard to the recent serious loss of life in coal mines arising from explosions of coal dust, and having regard also to the recommendations of the Coal Dust Commission, he will endeavour to find an early opportunity to proceed with the Coal Mines Bill, or, at least, such parts of it as relate to the safety of the mine?
§ SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEYI am encouraged by the Question of the hon. Member, and by the favourable criticism which I have received from all quarters upon the clauses of the Coal Mines Bill which deal with making Further provision for safety in mines, to hope that the House may agree to a Second Reading of the Bill, if confined exclusively to that object, without Debate, with a view to its being referred to the Grand Committee on Trade. I propose, therefore, to move it on Thursday. I shall propose to omit the check-weighing clause in Committee.