§ Mr. CAPEasked the Home Secretary if his attention has been called to the increase which has taken place in the number of accidents to men employed in the iron-ore mines in West Cumberland; and, if so, will he be prepared at once to carry out the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Metalliferous Mines by the appointment of two sub-inspectors who should be practical iron-ore miners?
§ Major BAIRDThere has been no increase in the total number of accidents, but the number of fatal cases during the last two years has been considerably above the average, as often happens when dealing with very small figures. The Home Secretary has not felt justified at 1295W present in asking Parliament for an increase of the inspecting staff, but the filling up of the vacancies which arose during the War has enabled him to arrange for a substantial increase of the inspection in the Cumberland iron mines.
§ Mr. CAPEasked the Home Secretary when the Metalliferous Mines Bill, based upon the Report of the Royal Commission on the working of the Metalliferous Mines, will be introduced, seeing that the judgment of Mr. Justice Roche in the recent case of Crisp v. Hodbarrow Mining Company now makes the passing of a new Act one of extreme urgency?
§ Major BAIRDMy right hon. Friend regrets that owing to pressure of other legislation it is not possible for him to promise a Bill on the subject this Session. From the reports I have seen of the case mentioned in the question, it appears that the accident which was the subject of proceedings was due to an error of judgment and not to any defect in the Regulations in force at the mine.