§ 69. Mr. BUTCHERasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the report of the inspector of mines in the South Wales division for 1913, which purports to describe the care, condition, and treatment of 17,744 horses used underground in that division, occupies, apart from statistics, only six lines; whether the report made to the inspector of mines for that division by the special horse inspector for that division for 1913 contained fuller information, and whether the same will be published; and whether he will ascertain and inform the House how many separate mines in that division were inspected in 1913 by the special horse inspector, how many mines were so inspected more than once, and how many horses were actually inspected?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. McKenna)The inspector for the South Wales district is a man of few words but great administrative ability, and the hon. Member must not measure the amount of work done by the brevity of his reports. I find that between February and December, 1913, in addition to inspection by the general staff, 219 mines were inspected and 6,264 horses individually examined by the horse inspector. I am not, however, satisfied that in South Wales the ground has been adequately covered, and the chief inspector who visits South Wales next month, will advise me whether additional staff or better arrangements are required. Fuller reports will be made in future.
§ Mr. BUTCHERWill the right hon. Gentleman ask the inspector for the South Wales division to send in a further report describing the result of his inspections?
§ Mr. McKENNAFuller reports will be given in future years.
§ Mr. BUTCHERI mean for the past year (1913), the inspections which the right hon. Gentleman said were frequent.
§ Mr. McKENNAI will consider that point, but I could not promise hastily to issue another report.