§ Sir J. BUTCHER(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary for Mines whether he has any further information to give as to the withdrawal of pit ponies and horses from the mines, and thereby saving them from starvation and from drowning, especially in the mines of Leven, in Fife, West Benhar, in Lanark, Bargoed, in Wales, and Dydraw, in the Rhondda Valley?
§ Sir H. BRITTAIN(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is able to inform the House, in which collieries, pit ponies have already lost their lives; what action he has taken in this matter; and whether he can definitely assure the House that all steps are being taken to save from destruction any ponies which may yet remain in the pits?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANMy information is that all horses which cannot for the present be left below ground in safety and fed and attended to there, have by now been withdrawn from the mines with the exception of two horses at the Leven Collieries, Fife. In this case, the Divisional Inspector of Mines is using his utmost efforts to get the miners to allow steam to be raised at the boilers so that these horses may be got out. So far as I am aware, no pit ponies have been lost in the mines, and my Department will do everything in its power to ensure that none shall be lost. I should also add that, as I stated in the House last night, 272 the President and Secretary of the Miners' Federation have promised to take action for the safety of ponies at any mine where I notify them that they are in danger.