§ 31. Mr. HARDIEasked the Secretary for Mines whether, in the recent explosion at Siddick Colliery, a violation of Section 29 of the Coal Mines Act, 1911, was committed?
§ Lieut.-Colonel LANE-FOXI have directed that a public inquiry into the causes and circumstances of this explosion be held by the Chief Inspector of Mines concurrently with the adjourned inquest, beginning to-day. Until the result of this inquiry is known I am not in a position to reply to the question.
§ Mr. HARDIEWhen the question was put another way, the hon. Gentleman answered that gas was present at that time. Why does he say that and now put it off? Does he know anything about mines or gas?