§ Mr. A. BENNETTasked the Secretary for Mines whether his Department is co-operating in any way with the Miners' Federation of Great Britain in its investigation into the most humane way of working pit ponies; and whether his Department has considered at any time the issue of any general regulations governing the use of these animals?
§ Lieut.-Colonel LANE-FOXAs regards the first part of the question, inspectors of mines always welcome the co-operation of the Miners' Federation in the performance of their duty of ensuring the humane treatment of pit ponies.
As regards the second part, general rules for this purpose are already laid down by the Third Schedule to the Coal Mines Act. If experience proves these rules to be inadequate in any particular, I have power to add to them by regulation. This power has been used in the past, and I shall not hesitate to use it again if occasion arises.