§ Mr. Hopkinasked the Secretary for Mines whether he will cause inquiries to be made into the possibility of re-opening the lead mines at Rhandirmwyn, Carmarthenshire, in view of the number of unemployed men in the district and the national need for lead?
§ Mr. LloydThe lead mines at Rhan-dirnwyn were closed and dismantled in 1930, when the machinery was sold and the rails, both surface and underground, 695W were taken up. Any re-opening would therefore take a long time to accomplish. The mines are situated in a remote and rather inaccessible district and in addition the prospects of their successful working are somewhat speculative.
I am informed that there is at present no shortage of lead and that none is anticipated. In these circumstances I regret I can see no prospect of these mines being re-opened.