§ Mr. J. W. BARCLAYasked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether the Board of Trade proposes, in consequence of the great development of the Fisheries, to take any steps for improving the lighting of the Orkney and Shetland Islands, and particularly of the Fair Isle; and, whether the Trinity House authorities have yet arrived at any conclusion respecting the scheme submitted by the Northern Lighthouse Commissioners for improving the lighting of 516 those islands; and, if not, when a Report may be expected?
§ MR. CHAMBERLAINThe Board of Trade have no power to take the initiative in this matter. Advantage to the Fisheries standing alone would not be a justification for applying the Mercantile Marine Fund to lighting these Islands, as fishing boats do not contribute to that fund. I received yesterday a letter from the Trinity House authorities stating that they had not yet arrived at a conclusion respecting the comprehensive scheme submitted by the Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses; but that they had suggested to those Commissioners that, pending the settlement of wider questions, a rocket fog signal station on Fair Isle might be tried during the coming winter.