§ Mr. BUTCHERasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any special inspectors of horses and ponies have yet been appointed under the Coal Mines Act, 1911; if so, when such appointments were made; whether such inspectors will report directly to the Secretary of State; if so, how often; and whether such reports will be laid on the Table of the House?
§ Mr. McKENNAI am informed by the Civil Service Commissioners that the qualifying examination which the selected candidates for these posts are required to pass takes place to-morrow. I have asked the Commissioners to take the necessary steps with a view to the appointment of the candidates as rapidly as possible. The inspectors of horses will report to the district inspectors under whom they work. Their reports, like the reports of the other inspectors, will be confidential, but the district inspectors will report annually in the reports which are presented to Parliament on the care and treatment of the animals in their districts and on the observance of the regulations.