§ 6. Mr. TINKERasked the Secretary for Mines whether it is his intention to take steps to make it compulsory on colliery owners to provide automatic gas detectors on every long wall-face where coal-cutting machinery is in use?
§ Mr. E. BROWNNo, Sir My proposals for dealing comprehensively with the provision of firedamp detectors for use by underground workmen are con 921 tained in the preliminary draft of regulations on the subject which is at present under discussion with the representative bodies of the industry. The draft requires the provision of a sufficient number of detectors of an approved type, but in accordance with one of the governing principles of the Coal Mines Act, the colliery management would have the responsibility of deciding in each instance which of the various approved types of detector shall be provided.
§ Mr. TINKERI do not mention any special automatic detector in the question. I 'am asking if the hon. Gentleman cannot make it compulsory to have them.
§ Mr. BROWNIf the hon. Member looks at the question, he will see that he asks for automatic gas detectors.
§ Mr. TINKERYes, but there are several types.
§ 7. Mr. T. SMITHasked the Secretary for Mines whether he is in a position to make a statement with regard to the suggested regulation for the compulsory use of gas detectors underground?
§ Mr. BROWNOn Thursday last I had a further discussion with the workers' representatives on the lines indicated in the reply I gave the hon. Member on 19th June. I undertook, at the request of the Mineworkers' Federation, to consider the amendment of certain provisions of the draft regulations and the Federation is to consider certain suggestions made by me.
§ Mr. SMITHI beg to give notice that, owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I shall deal with this matter on the Estimates to-day.