§ Mr. MARKHAMasked the Prime Minister if he will say whether there is any civilised country in the world where representative institutions exist which has not established an office of Minister of Mines; and whether, seeing that mining is now the largest industry in this country and that the loss of life and danger to life is far greater than in any other large trade, he will consider the desirability of removing the control of mines from the Home Office to a special mines department in charge of a Minister responsible to Parliament?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Asquith)According to my information, there is no European country in which the office of Minister of Mines exists. My hon. Friend is, no doubt, aware that a Department of Mines was established at the Home Office by the present Government in 1908, and I am not prepared to recommend the removal of the control of mines from the Home office.
§ Mr. MARKHAMWill the right hon. Gentleman say where he gets his information as to the Ministers of Mines? I will send him the information to-night.
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe matter has been most carefully gone into.