§ 39. Mr. TOM SMITHasked the Secretary for Mines whether copies of the reports of the recent pit trials of the Ringrose automatic alarms have yet been circulated to the interested parties; and whether the reports will be available to Members of the House?
§ Mr. E. BROWNThe volume containing the reports on the pit trials of the Ringrose alarm is in the press and copies will be circulated to the interested parties as soon as they are ready. The volume is not being published for general circulation, but I will arrange for copies to be available at the Vote Office so that hon. Members who are particularly interested may obtain a copy on application.
§ Mr. SMITHHow many reports have been received and, seeing that the inquiry has been going on for more than two years, can the hon. Gentleman give us any indication when finality is likely to be reached?
§ Mr. BROWNI cannot answer the last part of the question. The actual experiments in three areas have only just been completed. There are three main reports, carrying a number of tabular appendices, and one minority report.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSCan the hon. Gentleman say whether it is a fact that the last and perhaps final test has been in operation for six months and that this was preceded by five and a-half years of previous practical and laboratory tests; and does he not think that now, at long last, there ought to be a settlement either one way or the other?
§ Mr. BROWNThere is no need for urging that matter. The hon. Member will realise that I must get the comments of the interested parties on the reports before I make up my mind.