§ Major KELLEYasked the Secretary for Mines whether the Department of Mines proposes to continue its experimental station; and, if so, whether the 2008W station can be removed to some central position such as Altofts, in South Yorkshire?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANYes, Sir. The Mining Dangers Research Board is at present actively engaged in working out a scheme for the reorganisation of the Mines Department experimental station. The Board is fully alive to the desirability of having the station in an accessible position central to the coalfields of the country. It is, however, proving a difficult matter to find a suitable site which possesses this advantage, and is at the same time sufficiently remote from habitations and public traffic to obviate risk of danger or nuisance from experimental explosions; and the Board will be glad to receive suggestions as to suitable sites. For various reasons Altofts is not, I am afraid, a suitable site.