§ Mr. BARNESasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that on the 10th July, 1912, a boiler explosion took place in the works of the Belhaven Engineering and Motors, Limited, at their Allanton foundry, Wishaw, causing the death of several men; whether the occurrence has been reported to the Board of Trade; whether a Board of Trade inquiry is to be held into the circumstances attending the bursting of the boiler and the death of the men; will he say why the inquiry has been so long delayed; and on what date the inquiry is to take place?
Mr. BUXTONThe boiler explosion to which my hon. Friend refers was reported to the Board of Trade, and a preliminary inquiry has been held by one of the Board's surveyors. A formal investigation was ordered, but it has not been possible to proceed with the hearing, as criminal proceedings are pending.