§ MR. JOHN WILSON (Durham, Mid)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has seen an account of a calamity at Craghead Colliery, in the county of Durham, whereby a man named Robson lost his life, and another named Stenlake was seriously affected by the fumes of gelignite or foul air; whether he is aware that three miners named Cooper, Wilson, and Parnaby nearly lost their lives in an attempt to rescue Robson and Stenlake; and whether some arrangement can be made whereby the men who risk their lives in this manner can receive some national acknowledgment of their bravery.
§ *SIR M. WHITE RIDLEYYes, Sir. I have had before me a report of this case, and may, perhaps, say that the accident was due not to fumes of gelignite, but to a sudden escape of noxious gas from the coal. I am fully sensible of the courage displayed by Cooper, Wilson, and Parnaby, and am sure that everyone will agree that it is worthy of cordial recognition. But I am proud to think that it is always forthcoming in greater or less degree when circumstances demand it, and I doubt whether any new national arrangements are desirable for rewarding special cases which it would be extremely difficult to select.
§ MR. JOHN WILSON (Durham, Mid)Would it not be as easy to give the V.C. for industrial bravery as for bravery on the field of battle?
§ *SIR M. WHITE RIDLEYThe question of the grant of the Albert medal is frequently under consideration in these cases. I am not saying it ought or ought not to be awarded in this case. But it must be given under very rare circumstances. The granting of the medal has, in my experience, often given rise to many difficulties and heart-burnings.