§ 26. Mr. BARRasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he can give the House any information as to the accident in Coatbank Street, Coatbridge, whereby three persons have lost their lives through the collapse of a building in process of demolition; whether he is aware that there are a large number of tenement buildings in this street and its courts in a semi-demolished and dangerous condition; that these courts are the playground of large numbers of children; that a similar accident took place a month age whereby a schoolboy was badly injured; whether during the weeks of demolition the owners or contractors have put up any barricade or notice of warning or set any watchman to on the buildings; and whether he will take immediate action against the recurrence of such accidents?
§ The UNDER-SECPETARY of STATE for SCOTLAND (Lieut.-Colonel Colville)The circumstances of the accident referred to are at present bring investigated by the Procurator Fiscal and may form the subject of a public inquiry under the Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths Inquiry (Scotland) Act, 1906. It would, accordingly, be inappropriate for me to make any statement at the present stage.