§ 76. Mr. DUNCAN MILLARasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been directed to the successful manner in which the system of hydraulic stowage or packing of the waste has been carried into operation at the Dalzell and Broomside Colliery at Motherwell; whether he is aware that an experiment of the same kind is also being carried out in Fife; and whether, having regard to the success of such experiments, he will give instructions to the inspectors of mines in Scotland to report as to how far such a system could be successfully adopted in other coal mines in Scotland?
§ Mr. McKENNAAs my hon. Friend is aware, the Departmental Committee on Spontaneous Combustion in Coal Mines is investigating the question of hydraulic stowage of wastes from the point of view of safety of working where the coal is liable to heat, and I understand that the Committee intend to take evidence as to the results of the experiments made with this system in certain collieries in Scotland. There seems no occasion, therefore, to direct any separate inquiry by the inspectors?
§ Mr. DUNCAN MILLARWill the right hon. Gentleman not consider the advisability of getting his inspectors to report upon the experiments which have been made in the past few months, in order that we may have the information before us?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe Committee will, no doubt, take evidence upon the point.
§ Mr. DUNCAN MILLARThe Committee will not have before them the facts relating to these experiments.
§ Mr. McKENNAIf they ask for them, they will, I have no doubt.
§ Major ANSTRUTHER-GRAYWill the right hon. Gentleman direct his inspectors' attention to these experiments?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe inspectors are aware of them. I think the matter may be safely left in the hands of the Committee.
§ 77. Mr. DUNCAN MILLARasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been dircted to the need for making better provision for the distribution and storage of explosives in mines; and whether, having 366 regard to the dual responsibility which exists under the present system, the absence of proper means of carrying into and out of the mines the explosives required, and the dangers arising therefrom, he will consider as to making the mine-owners responsible for the storage and distribution of explosives in future, so as to secure their safe carriage while in transit, their methodical distribution to the miners at the working face, and their safe return, when unused, to the store?
§ Mr. McKENNAI have no evidence before me pointing to the need of altering the present system in the direction suggested in the question. The practice of men carrying their own explosives below ground is of long standing and does not appear to be attended with special danger, and no change in regard to it was recommended by the Royal Commission.
§ Mr. DUNCAN MILLARHas not the right hon. Gentleman had representations made to him on behalf of certain bodies of miners on this question?
§ Mr. McKENNAYes, Sir; doubtless I have, but the subject-matter came before the Royal Commission and it did not make any recommendation.
§ Mr. DUNCAN MILLARWill the right hon. Gentleman not consider the representations made to him on behalf of this body recently on this very important question concerning the safety of the miners themselves?
§ Mr. McKENNAOh, yes, I should not fail to do that.