§ Mr. LYNCHasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that last year 1,618 men in the United Kingdom received compensation in regard to miners' mystagmus, and that in a paper presented to the Royal Society (Series B 576), Dr. Llewellyn attributed the disease in great part to defective light; and whether he will take steps to have the whole question of the illumination of mines investigated as, for example, by a Special Commission?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe figure in the question is that for 1910, as given in the Home Office Statistics: the figure for 1911 is not yet available. I am aware of Dr. Llewellyn's researches and understand that they are still being continued. The illuminating power of miners' lamps is one of the matters which will be taken into account in approving lamps under the provisions of the new Coal Mines Act, and the point is under the consideration of the Committee which is now engaged in formulating the test. I also hope that the competition which is now proceeding for the prize offered for the best electric miner's lamp will help greatly towards an improvement in the illumination of mines. I do not think there is a case for instituting a further special inquiry at the present time.