asked the Secretary for Mines whether, in view of the fact that 2,292 of the ponies employed in the mines of Great Britain in 1921 either died or had to be destroyed in consequence of injuries received, and that 1,933 either died or had to be destroyed owing to disease, and that 6,102 received non-fatal injuries, he will give directions that the recommendations made by His Majesty's Inspector of Mines for the Northern Division shall be carried out, namely, that no inexperienced person shall be allowed to take charge of a pony underground; that there should be a more rigid supervision of pony drivers so as to ensure attention to the details which make for the safety and comfort of the ponies; and that the condition of the roadways shall receive careful attention, so that when it is found that more height is required for the pony, this should be made in a proper manner, and not by merely digging holes between the sleepers?

I would draw my hon. and learned Friend's attention to Section 45 of the Coal Mines Act, 1911, and paragraph 15 of the 3rd Schedule, which deal with the points mentioned. Inspectors of Mines keep these requirements prominently before those responsible, and no further directions, as suggested in the question, should be necessary.

In view of the special recommendations of His Majesty's Inspector of Mines for the Northern Division, will the hon. and gallant Gentleman give directions that these provisions of the Act should be more strictly enforced?

Instructions have already been given that the provisions of the Act should be fully enforced, but the recommendations of this inspector were merely suggestions as to how the general provisions of the Act should be specially carried out—they were not a request for new legislation or regulations.

Will these recommendations he given effect to?

Yes, Sir. As far as I can secure it, they are being fully given effect to.

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that there is mechanical haulage in use in some pits in place of the ponies?

Can the hon. and gallant Gentleman explain why, if there is more rigid supervision over pit ponies, 1,000 of them died of disease?

asked the Secretary for Mines whether, in view of the statement by His Majesty's Inspector of Mines for the Northern Division that in that division mechanical forms of haulage are not employed in cases where it would be an advantage to do so, he will instruct His Majesty's inspectors of mines for the divisions to consider and report whether mechanical forms of haulage could to some extent be advantageously employed in substitution for haulage by ponies; and whether he will state to what extent mechanical haulage has been adopted in mines in Great Britain during the last few years in substitution for haulage by ponies?

No precise data as to the relative extent of mechanical haulage and horse haulage are available, but it may be inferred from the annual statistics as to the number of pit ponies employed that mechanical forms of haulage have displaced nearly 10,000 pit ponies during the past 10 years. The substitution of mechanical haulage; for horse haulage is still going on, and it is the general opinion of the inspectors of mines that it can be carried much further with advantage. I have already issued an announcement that Mr. Charles Markham has placed at my disposal a sum of £1,000 to be offered as a prize for the best storage battery locomotive for use underground. Details of this competition will shortly be announced, and I hope that its result will be further progress in this direction.

In the meantime, may we not look to the humanity of the British miner to look after the ponies as well as possible?

Yes, Sir. I am quite sure that many of these rumours of ill-treatment of pit ponies are much exaggerated.

May we not also look to the humanity of the British colliery owners?

The pony drivers love their ponies.