§ Mr. STANTONasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the double fatal accident at the West Cannock colliery, Hednesford, Lanes., on the 7th of April last, when two men, named Turner and Harper, met their deaths through falling down the pit shaft; whether the evidence at the inquest has been placed before his Department, especially that of Benjamin Buckley and of Mr. Lea, the mines inspector; is he aware that, according to the evidence, the byatt or sill had not been examined for the last fourteen years, and seeing that if the proper harness had been worn these men's lives would have been saved, will he take steps to compel the management to use such harness in all cases where men are engaged in repairing work in shafts; will he prosecute the management for any breach of this rule; and will his Department issue strict orders at once that this harness must be worn and thereby save the lives of men so engaged in future?
§ Sir G. CAVEI have received reports on this accident, together with notes of the evidence given at the inquest. It appears that safety belts were available at the mine, and were regularly used for work in shafts, but that on the occasion in question the men were not engaged on ordinary shaft work, but on the repair of an old fan drift at the surface. The district inspector reports that the case does not appear to have been one in which belts ought to have been used. As I stated, in reply to the hon. Member's question on this subject on the 17th May last, safety appliances of this kind are commonly used when necessary for safety, but there is no regulation making their use compulsory in all cases, and I am advised that it would not be practicable to make such a regulation.