§ 65. Sir JOHN RANDLESasked the Home Secretary whether, with a view to encouraging the production of miners' safety lamps, he will revise the regulations respecting the tests at Eskmeals in respect of furnishing explicit details of the apparatus and the tests to which the lamps are to be submitted; and whether he will consider the desirability of reducing the fee of £20 for each lamp tested so that manufacturers sending in a quantity of lamps for testing will not be restrained by the high fee?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe Memorandum which has been issued by the Home Office furnishes very explicit details of the nature of the test, and a description of the apparatus used in testing lamp glasses has been already circulated to manufacturers. They have also been given an opportunity of seeing the testing arrangements at Eskmeals. My Department is in close touch with the manufacturers, and is furnishing them with any information they may require as to the test. I am afraid I do not see my way to a modification of the fee for the test of a lamp, which has been fixed so as to cover as nearly as possible the expenses of testing. I have, however, been able to make concessions to meet the views of manufacturers in connection with the glass tests and the question of variations in the form of an approved lamp.
§ Sir J. RANDLESWould the right hon. Gentleman be willing to receive manufacturers who think that the explanations given are not explicit enough?
§ Mr. McKENNAI shall be glad to consider the point, but I should like to hear first what is the nature of their complaint.