§ MR. JOHN HOPE (Fife, W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether, seeing that the output of coal in Fifeshire has doubled during the last twenty-five years, and looking to the number of colliery disasters in the county recently, he will appoint additional inspectors of mines and make it a condition that one at least shall reside in Fifeshire.
§ MR. RITCHIELast year I authorised the removal of the headquarters of the East Scotland Mining District from Glasgow to Edinburgh, and the transfer of a part of the Lanarkshire coalfield from that district to the West Scotland district. These steps were taken chiefly in order to give the Inspectors for East Scotland easier access to Fifeshire, and to allow them to devote more time to inspection in that county. I am satisfied that these measures are sufficient, that the Fifeshire mines receive adequate inspection, and that the Inspectors are within reach of any mine where their presence is required.