§ 67. Mr. JAMES GRIFFITHSasked the Secretary for Mines whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that, following the recent unfortunate flooding 390 of the Loveston Colliery, Pembrokeshire, considerable apprehension exists among the men employed at collieries adjacent to old workings known to be waterlogged; whether he will take steps to secure that this problem is dealt with by the adoption of a comprehensive drainage scheme for the whole of the South Wales coalfield; and whether the Government are prepared to render such financial assistance as will make such drainage scheme possible and practicable?
§ Captain CROOKSHANKThough no representations have as yet been made to me, I can well understand that there is anxiety, and I am considering what further measures might be taken to relieve it: but I am advised that the class of case in which there may be apprehension of water danger from old workings along the outcrops of the anthracite seams would not be amenable to treatment or be affected by any general drainage scheme.
§ Mr. GRIFFITHSIs it not a fact that the original inspector urged upon the Minister's Department for several years the necessity, in the interests of safety, of a scheme of this kind and that it has not been brought forward because of the financial difficulty; and will the Minister reply to that part of the question?
§ Captain CROOKSHANKThat is not really a part of the question. If the hon. Member will look at the second report of the Commissioner for the Special Areas, paragraphs 82 and 83, he will find the ease dealt with there and the reasons given why the scheme has not been adopted.
§ Mr. GRIFFITHSThat is the report of the Commissioner who urged the Government to proceed with the scheme, but what the Government are going to do we do not know yet.
§ Captain CROOKSHANKThe Commissioner did not urge the Government to proceed with the scheme. Perhaps the hon. Member will refresh his memory by reading the paragraphs to which I have referred him.