Mr. W. Joseph Stewartasked the Secretary for Mines whether the attention of his Department has been drawn to the D. M. Mowat portable winding-gear, which is capable of bringing miners to the surface almost as quickly as the normal winding-gear; is he aware that many colliery managers are impressed by 490W its performance, which would be of great value if the ventilating system of a colliery was interfered with during an air raid or in the event of an explosion; and whether his Department will, as soon as possible, have it introduced into the Durham coalfield, so as to give a margin of safety to collieries situated on that coast in the event of air raids?
§ Mr. LloydThis is one of a number of portable winding equipments which are being provided in the coalfields, largely at the instance of my Department, as part of the general measures of precaution against attacks from the air. As regards mines in Durham, corresponding measures of precaution are being taken by inter-connecting some of the mines underground and the provision of auxiliary winding equipment for use at others.