Mr. W1NTERTONasked the Secretary for Mines whether, in view of the report of the coroner's inquest on a number of miners who died as the result 2658W of an explosion at Minorca Pit, Measham, Leicestershire, on 12th April last, and in view of the admission of the management that gas was found in the district on four previous occasions, and the fact that a deputy was discharged from the service of the colliery company after reporting the presence of gas, he will institute inquiries as to whether there was neglect to protect the lives of the worker in this particular pit?
§ Mr. SHINWELLSuch inquiries have already been made. His Majesty's Inspectors of Mines have made close inquiries at the colliery and the circumstances of the explosion were investigated very fully at the coroner's inquest in which the Divisional Inspector took part. I have carefully examined all the information available to me, and have come with some reluctance to the conclusion that it does not provide proof of any contravention of the requirements of the safety law. Since the accident safety lamps have been made compulsory throughout the seam in which it occurred, and a proper system of searching all the workers has been put into force.