§ MR. DAVID THOMAS (Merthyr Tydvil)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, (1) whether the safety provisions, contained in Clause 1 of the Coal Mines Regulation Act of (1887) Amendment (No. 2) Bill, can be proposed by him under Clause 54, sub-section (2), of the 1887 Act, and without further legislation: (2.)And, whether, if such Amendment to the special rules were proposed, he has any reason to anticipate objection, either on the part of coal owners or their employees?
§ * SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEYThe rules which it is proposed to make under Clause 1 of the Bill to provide for the safety of the miners involve the amendment and to some extent the repeal of the General Rules contained in Section 49 of the Act of 1887. These General Rules being statutory, I am advised that, in order sufficiently to attain the end in view, express statutory authority is required for their suspension. This is given in Clause 1, Sub-clause (2) of the Bill, in accordance with one of the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Coal Dust. In answer to the second paragraph I have every reason to believe that I shall have the hearty support of both owners and workmen in making such special rules as are reasonable and necessary in the interests of safety.