§ Mr. SITCHasked the President of the Board of Trade if he has received a copy of a resolution passed at a recent meeting of the South Staffordshire Mines Drainage Commission calling for the public inquiry already suggested in the final Report, dated January, 1918, of the Coal Conservation Committee relative to the flooding 705W of mines in the district under the Commission's jurisdiction; whether he has received representations from the responsible authorities to the effect that, in spite of every precaution, the flow of water from the Tipton mines threatens to overwhelm the mines in the Old Hill area and that the situation is one of great seriousness, causing anxiety and alarm in the neighbourhood to all persons concerned; and whether he can take steps to arrange for the desired public inquiry at the earliest possible date?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe answer to the first and second parts of the question is in the affirmative. My right hon. Friend is considering whether an immediate inquiry should be held and what form the inquiry should take.