Captain A. EVANSasked the Secretary for Mines, in view of the fact that there are only eight Government inspectors to carry out an efficient inspection of over 66,000 pit ponies, which number is totally inadequate, if he will undertake to increase this staff or, failing that, permit the inspectors of the Royal Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to be allowed free access to the pits?
§ Lieut.-Colonel LANE-FOXI would refer the hon. Member to the replies which I gave on Monday to questions on this subject. As I stated then, the work of inspection as regards pit ponies forms part of the duty of 86 inspectors of mines generally, in addition to being the sale duty of eight of them, who are specially qualified inspectors of horses. The proposal that officers of private societies should be given the right of entry to mines to inspect horses was fully considered by the Royal Commission on Mines, who expressed themselves as not being in favour of it. On the information at present. before me, I do not see any reason to dissent from this view.