§ Mr. Eadieasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, in the interest of safety in the mines, he will give a general direction to the National Coal Board on the use of better pit gas detectors which are now being manufactured commercially and were mentioned in the Safety in Mines Research Establishment Report.
§ Mr. EmeryLarge numbers of instruments for the detection and estimation of gas are already in use in the board's mines. New instruments are evaluated for use in the mines as they become available. I have no reason to think that a general direction is necessary to secure the introduction of improved gas detectors once their value has been established, but I would have no hesitation in taking any initiative if I believed that by so doing I could further protect the health of miners.