§ Mr. J. Griffithsasked the Secretary for Mines if he has any statement to make on the report of the investigation made by his officers into the measures adopted at: the French coal mines to prevent explosions; and, in view of the fact that the French death-rate from explosions in the period 1925 to 1934 was less than 734W one-third of this country, what action he proposes to take in the matter?
§ Captain CrookshankYes, Sir. Certain matters, namely, stone-dusting, precautions against fire, and the safety of electrical signalling apparatus were already under consideration before the receipt of this report and are being dealt with by General Regulations, the draft of which is already under discussion with the industry. Certain other matters which could be dealt with only by legislation—notably those of standards and practice of ventilation, and the desirability of further restriction on the use below ground of electricity and naked lights—have been under investigation for some time by the Royal Commission on Safety, and the report has been sent to the Commission for consideration in framing their recommendations. Apart from these there are other questions of conduct and discipline which I commend to the earnest attention of all concerned.