§ MR. CHANNINGI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he has considered the Report of Major Marindin, on the collision at Keith Junction on 17th June, from which it appears that the collision occurred owing to the points being worked by hand instead of being interlocked with the signals; that in 1884 the same Inspector of the Board recommended that this station should be remodelled and re-signalled; that last year a similar collision occurred to a Great North of Scotland train at the same station; that the cross over road and other additions at this station were carried out without submitting the alterations for inspection by the Board of Trade; whether the making of these alterations without obtaining the authorisation of the Board of Trade rendered the Company liable to penalties under "The Regulation of Railways Act, 1842," as extended by the Act of 1871; and what steps will be taken to bring this state of things to an end?
§ * SIR M. HICKS BEACHI have considered the Report of Major Marindin on the collision at Keith Junction on June 17. After the accident of last year the attention of the company was called to their omission to report alterations for inspection, and they assured the Board of Trade that they would take care in future that when any alterations are made the Board of Trade shall be advised as required by the Act. They have also been called upon to submit for inspection all places where the permanent way or works have been altered or extended since the passing of the Act of 1871. The action of the company in this matter appears to me to afford additional reason for the passing of the Bill which is now before the House.