§ MR. CHARLES PALMERasked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether the Trinity House has expressed to that Department an opinion condemning the selection of Dunbar as a site for a lighthouse; whether that opinion has been supported by the views of master mariners thoroughly conversant with the navigation of the Firth of Forth; whether, notwithstanding the condemnation of that site, the Northern Lights Commissioners adhere to their intention to erect a lighthouse at Dunbar; and, whether the Board of Trade will refuse to sanction the undertaking?
§ MR. CHAMBERLAINIn answer to the hon. Member, I have to say it is true that the Trinity House has differed in opinion from the Northern Lights Commissioners with regard to the lighting of the Firth of Forth; and it is also true that I have received from shipmasters and others interested in the navigation an expression of their opinion, also, in opposition of the views entertained by the Northern Lights Commissioners; and, under those circumstances, having given the whole matter very careful consideration, I caused a letter to be addressed to the Northern Lights Commissioners about a week ago, in which I urged upon them the desirability of immediately proceeding with the erection of a lighthouse at Fidra, which is a site as to which there is no difference of opinion; but, at the same time, I in- 30 formed them I thought it would be better to defer proceeding with the erection of the lighthouse at Dunbar, with a view to a complete settlement of all the points raised concerning the lighting of the Forth.