§ Colonel Wheatleyasked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he will consider including in the Bill for nationalising the mines, provisions for the substitution, as far as possible, of machinery for ponies in the pits.
§ Mr. W. FosterThe hon. Member will see that Clause 1 of the Coal Industry Nationalisation Bill charges the National Coal Board with the duty of securing the efficient development of the coal mining industry. The use of horse haulages for drawing coal is a practice which was generally condemned in the Reid Report as out of date, and I have no doubt that the use of horses and ponies.for this purpose will be gradually eliminated as the reorganisation of the industry is proceeded with.