§ MR. MARKHAM (Nottinghamshire, Mansfield)To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the Departmental Committee on the Mines (Eight Hours) Bill has recently been taking evidence from the chairman of the Metropolitan Gas Company on the question of profit sharing; whether he is aware that this gentleman has many times publicly given this evidence; whether he will therefore direct the Committee that they are not to take evidence where the same is available in Parliamentary Papers; will he say how long the Committee have been sitting, how many sittings have been held, and what are the instructions he has given to the Committee, if any, to expedite their Report; and whether any single member of this Committee has had any practical experience in the management of a colliery.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone) I am informed by the Committee that the evidence taken from Sir George Livesey referred, not to the subject of profit-sharing, but to that of the institution of an eight-hour shift at the South Metropolitan Gas Works. The Committee commenced taking evidence on 3rd January, and finished on the 8th of this month, having held twenty-seven meetings in all. The Committee expect to place their Report in my hands this week, and it should be available for Members 575 shortly after Whitsuntide. As regards the last part of the Question the Answer is in the affirmative.