§ MR. KEIR HARDIEI beg to ask the Prime Minister whether it is intended to give the House any opportunity of expressing its sympathy with the miners of France in the terrible disaster which has befallen them; and whether the right hon. Gentleman has any later information concerning the extent of the disaster which he could communicate to the House.
§ MR. ASHLEYI also wish to ask whether an expression of British sympathy with the victims of the disaster can be conveyed officially to the Government of the French Republic.
SIR H. CAMBPELL-BANNERMANI have received notice of a similar Question from my hon. friend the Member for Rotherham, and I think I cannot do better than read the following despatch which my right hon. friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs yesterday sent to our Ambassador in Paris:—"Please express to the French Government the deep concern of His Majesty's Government at the terrible disaster at Courrieres les Lens and their sympathy with the survivors." I do not know 939 that it would be usual or even necessary after this to contemplate any formal statement on the part of the House of its feelings in the matter. I have no later information to give the House.