§ 19. Mr. C. BATHURSTasked whether, seeing that the examination for the special inspectorships, under the Mines Act, 1911, of horses in South Wales coal mines took place at Cardiff on the 9th instant, the appointments have yet been made; and, if so, whether he will state the names of the persons appointed?
§ Mr. McKENNAI am informed by the Civil Service Commissioners that all the candidates have passed the examination, and that the medical and other inquiries will, it is hoped, be completed in a day or two. On receipt of the certificate of the Civil Service Commissioners, the appointments will be made at once.
§ 20. Mr. BUTCHERasked whether, in view of the fact that the Coal Mines Act, 1911, passed into law on the 16th December, 1911, and came into operation on the 1st July, 1912, and that no special inspectors of pit ponies, as provided by that Act, have yet been appointed, or, at any rate, had been appointed on the 10th January, 1913, he will call for special reports from the district inspectors of mines as to the treatment of pit ponies during the year 1912, and the observance of the regulations in relation to pit ponies contained in the Coal Mines Act, 1911; and whether he will cause such special reports to be laid upon the Table of the House?
§ Mr. McKENNAAs I have stated in reply to previous questions of the hon. Member the district inspectors will report on this subject in their annual reports for 1912, which they will shortly be preparing, and these reports will be laid before Parliament. It would not be right to take up time which the inspectors should be giving to actual inspection by calling upon them to prepare special reports on this subject in anticipation of their annual reports.
§ Mr. BUTCHERWill the right hon. Gentleman give instructions to his inspectors to give as full information as they can in their reports with regard to the care and treatment of pit ponies and the observance of the regulations?
§ Mr. McKENNAI will certainly bear in mind what the hon. Member has suggested.