§ MR. PHILIP STANHOPE (Burnley)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has now had the opportunity of considering 99 the representations made to him on behalf of the Burnley miners, in favour of the withdrawal of the exemption now existing in regard to them from the operation of the check-weighing clauses of the Mines Regulation Act 1886; and whether he is now in a position to make a statement on the subject?
§ SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEYI have made inquiries in this matter, but I do not think, as matters now stand, that the party who desire the withdrawal of the exemption have made out a case which would justify me in altering the existing arrangements. I am not even satisfied that a majority of the miners affected by the exemption desire the change.