§ 47. Sir GEORGE GREENWOODasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many special inspectors of horses and other animals used in mines, under Section 109 of the Coal Mines Act, 859 1911, are now acting in England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, respectively; and how often in the course of the year do they make inspection of the animals in each mine under their charge?
§ Sir G. CAVEThere are four special inspectors of horses for England, one for Scotland, and two for Wales. During the year 1915 they inspected 42,489 horses out of a total of 45,562 in England; 2,524 out of 4,626 in Scotland; and 10,101 out of 15,485 in Wales: and it is the duty of these inspectors, in addition to inspecting the horses, to investigate carefully the conditions under which they are kept and do their work. The other inspectors also very frequently inspect horses, but there is no record of the number of horses so inspected.
§ Sir G. GREENWOODWill the right hon. Gentleman say how often in the course of the year the inspectors make an inspection of the animals in each mine under their charge?
§ Sir G. CAVEThe hon. Member will find an answer to that question in the figures I have given.
§ Mr. BUTCHERDoes the right hon. Gentleman think the number of inspectors is sufficient to inspect adequately the 70,000 horses and ponies in the mines?
§ Sir G. CAVEI would ask for notice of that question.
§ Sir G. CAVEI will inquire as to that.