As regards stone drifts and headings, the measures recommended by the Royal Commission, which have been enumerated in previous replies and with which my hon. Friend is fully familiar, are being applied wherever the conditions so require; but the provision of the apparatus is not enough, and there is still need not only for the managements but for the workmen and subordinate officials to see that it is used more regularly and effectively and kept in good order, and I appeal again for their co-operation.

As the hon. Member knows, very pro-longed and thorough investigation has been directed to the conditions associated with the incidence of the disease and we are hoping for enlightenment and guidance from the report soon to be forthcoming from the Committee of the Medical Research Council. In the meantime, the chief undertaking in the anthracite area of South Wales, in consultation with the Divisional Inspector of Mines, has issued to all its officials a far-reaching code of instructions as to precautionary measures, and this has been made known also to the representatives of the workmen, on whose co-operation we must largely depend in seeking to bring about a change in the long-standing methods and customs of their work. I am hopeful that this scheme of co-operative effort will prove successful, although a standard set of statutory Regulation may well be necessary later when the position is clearer.