§ MR. ALBERT STANLEY (Staffordshire, N.W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the disaster that has occurred at the Coppice Pit of the Brereton Collieries by an inundation; whether he is aware that there are three persons still entombed there, and can he inform the House what steps are being taken for their recovery; and will he direct an inquiry to be made into the circumstances of the case.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. GLADSTONE,) Leeds, W.Yes, Sir. I have received reports as to this disaster, from which it appears that the workings are full of water, and that nothing can be done until additional pumping machinery capable of dealing with the flow of water is available. This has been ordered and is expected to arrive this week. As I have already informed my hon. friend, I am advised that a special inquiry into the cause of the accident would have no result at present, the place where it occurred being still inaccessible, but if no inquest can be held I think a special inquiry will ultimately be desirable.