§ Mr. T. SMITHasked the Secretary for Mines to what extent simultaneous shot-firing is being carried on in the various districts?
§ Captain CROOKSHANKSimultaneous shot-firing is, and always has been, permissible in naked light pits and in all stone drifts and sinking pits, but I have no general information as to the extent to which the practice is carried on in the various districts. In addition to normal practice, however, carefully controlled and supervised experiments are in progress at four safety lamp pits, of which two are in Yorkshire and one each in Lancashire and Derbyshire, for the purpose of experiment and research into the possibility of eliminating certain of the risks attendant upon shot-firing, more particularly, risks of explosion.