§ Mr. Tinkerasked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will set up a commission to make a thorough investigation into the cause of the outbreak of fires in coalmines, as within a short period there have been three in Lancashire and this is causing 673W concern to mineworkers who are anxious to know what steps can be taken to prevent these fires.
Major Lloyd GeorgeIn recent years special committees of the Institution of Mining Engineers have exhaustively studied the subject of underground fires, including both precautionary measures and the best methods of fire fighting. Their reports were published in 1925 and 1944. I do not think any further special investigation is called for. Most of the outbreaks of fire underground are of a minor character and their causes are, in general, well known. Moreover, all cases, however trivial, are reportable to His Majesty's Inspectors who investigate them thoroughly.