§ 5. Mr. Nealasked the Paymaster-General what advantages in safety have derived from the introduction of Roof-master supports into coal mines.
§ Mr. MaudlingThis system, like others recently introduced, is an attempt to mechanise the process of setting and advancing supports at the coal face, and it will be some time before its effect on safety can be judged.
§ Mr. NealI thank the right hon. Gentleman for that reply, but if it is intended to extend the use of this support throughout other coal mines, can he say whether the output results have been favourable?
§ Mr. MaudlingOnce again, I think it is too early. It is a very complicated business involving a complicated technical matter, and there are other systems designed to achieve rather similar results. I think that it would be too early to give any forecast of what is likely to happen, but the idea behind these systems is rather promising and is being pursued with great interest.