§ SIR T. SUTHERLANDI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether it is the case that he has appointed a Committee to investigate the question of arranging a system of watertight bulkheads and compartments in merchant vessels; if any of the members of such Committee are shipowners, actually at the present time carrying on business in that capacity; if he will state the names of the members of the Committee, and the terms of the Reference placed before them for consideration, and report; and whether they have been authorised to take evidence on the subject?
§ *SIR M. HICKS BEACHAs stated in my reply to a question by the hon. Member for Sunderland on March 13th, 1890, the Board of Trade have appointed a Special Committee to consider and report upon the question of the efficient 1679 sub-division of merchant ships by means of watertight bulkheads, and I shall be happy to furnish the hon. Member with a copy of the terms of reference.