HC Deb 03 May 1911 vol 25 cc421-2
Mr. ENOCH EDWARDS

asked whether any arrangements are being made to continue the experiments with coal dust which have been carried on during the last three years by representatives of the coal owners and others at Altofts Colliery and elsewhere; and whether the Government are prepared to undertake the control and responsibility of the experiments, in view of their great importance to the mining population in the direction of the prevention of coal dust explosions?

Mr. CHURCHILL

This matter has been receiving the careful consideration of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and myself, and I am glad now to be able to state that it has been decided to continue these experiments under the supervision of the Home Office, and that the Treasury have sanctioned the considerable expenditure that will be necessary for the purpose. The Mining Association have offered to place at the dis- posal of the Government for the purposes of the experiments the plant and instrument now in use at Altofts, an offer which I have gladly accepted, and arrangements are being made for starting work as soon as possible on a new site. I have appointed an expert committee, who will be directly in charge of the experiments, consisting of:—

Sir Henry Cunynghame, K.C.B. (Assistant-Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, Chairman of the Royal Commission on Mines);

Mr. R. A. S. Redmayne (Chief Inspector of Mines);

Captain Desborough (one of H.M. Inspectors of Explosives);

Professor H. B. Dixon, F.R.S. (Professor of Chemistry at Manchester University); and

Mr. W. Cuthbert Blackett, Consulting Mining Engineer.

I have also requested the members of the Royal Commission on Mines and of the Coal Dust Committee of the Mining Association, under whose supervision the previous series of experiments was conducted, to act as a consultative committee in connection with the experiments. By associating the members of the Royal Commission on Mines with the expert committee, I am glad that the Government will have the advantage of the advice of the hon. Member and two of his colleagues in the Miners' Federation, the right hon. Member for the Rhondda Valley and Mr. Smillie.

Lord BALCARRES

Is there a certificated Manager on the Committee?

Mr. CHURCHILL

Mr. Redmayne is, of course.