§ 77. Mr. BUTCHERasked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the fact that the Coal Mines Act. 1911, received the Royal Assent on the 16th December, 1911, and came into operation on the 1st July, 1912, and in view of the fact that that Act contained important regulations relating to the care and treatment of horses and other animals in mines, and that Section 109 expressly provided that the Secretary of State should appoint special inspectors for examining into the care and treatment of such horses and other animals and for 1013 enforcing the provisions of the Act in relation thereto, and in view of the urgency of the matter, he will state how many special inspectors of horses and other animals in mines have been appointed under the Act and for what districts; and, if no such inspectors have been yet appointed, whether he will state the reason for the delay that has taken place and when the inspectors will be appointed, what are the districts into which the United Kingdom is to be divided for the purpose of such inspection, and how many inspectors are to be appointed for each district?
§ Mr. McKENNAAs I explained in reply to questions on the 6th August and the 21st October, a very large number of applications was received for the new appointments of inspector of horses. These applications were referred to the new Board for mining examinations lately established under the Coal Mines Act of last Session. The examination of the numerous applications has necessarily occupied a considerable time, but I understand that the recommendations of the Board will be received shortly. In accordance with the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on the Report stage of the Bill, one inspector of horses will be appointed for each of the six divisions into which the United Kingdom will eventually be divided for inspection purposes. I may add that consulting veterinary surgeons have already been appointed.
§ Mr. BUTCHERCan the right hon. Gentleman state into what districts the country will be divided?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe ordinary six divisions into which the country is divided for the purposes of the Act.
§ Mr. BUTCHERWhat is the size of the divisions which each inspector will have?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe six divisions cover the whole country.
§ Mr. BUTCHERThe whole United Kingdom?
§ Mr. McKENNAYes.
§ Viscount HELMSLEYDoes the right hon. Gentleman mean that there will be six inspectors?
§ Mr. McKENNAYes. That was stated on the Report stage of the Bill. It was announced by my right hon. Friend that 1014 the appointments would be of six horse inspectors, and that was approved of by Parliament at the time.
§ Mr. RUPERT GWYNNEWhat is the meaning of "very shortly"? Does it mean next month?
§ Mr. McKENNAThat is not under my control, but I understand from the Board of Examinations that the result of the examinations will be announced shortly.
§ Mr. BUTCHERI beg to give notice that, in view of the unsatisfactory nature of that answer, I will call attention to the matter on the Motion for Adjournment to-night.