§ MR. CADOGANsaid, he wished to ask the President of the Board of Trade, Whether any Report has been received at the Board of Trade of two fatal accidents which have recently occurred at the Swindon Station to two servants of the Great Western Company while crossing the line; and, whether the Board of Trade have any power to compel Bail-way Companies to make such regulations as will enable their workmen, while on the Company's premises, and in the discharge of their duties, to cross the line in safety?
MR. BRIGHTSir, the Board of Trade have received no reports respecting the accidents referred to in the Question, and I may tell the hon. Gentleman that they have no power to compel railway companies to make such reports. The Acts of Parliament only compel railway companies to report accidents of a serious nature to the public using the lines, and do not refer to accidents to servants in their employ. I may state, however, that it is the intention of the Board of Trade to address a letter to the railway companies asking them to make returns of such accidents. From what we know of some of the companies, they, and probably indeed all of them, will have no indisposition whatever to make such returns, and, considering how many railway servants lose their lives in consequence of accidents, such information might in some cases be found useful.