§ COLONEL KING-HARMAN (Kent, Isle of Thanet)asked the Secretary to 1089 the Board of Trade, Whether, in view of the successful experiments which have taken place at the Sunk Light, Her Majesty's Government intend to establish telephonic or any other electric communication between the lightships on the Goodwin Sands and the mainland; whether it is true that it is in contemplation to relay the Ostend cable, which passes close to the Goodwin Sands, during the present Autumn; whether the Government will take advantage of this opportunity of effecting telephonic communication with the Goodwins, both with a view to economy, and with regard to the advisability of completing such communication before the Winter sets in; what steps Her Majesty's Government intend to take with regard to electric communication between the lightships and lighthouses round the coasts of Great Britain and Ireland and the mainland; and, if telegraphic or telephonic communication will be soon established between the mainland and Tory Island?
§ THE SECRETARY (Baron HENRY DE WORMS) (Liverpool, East Toxteth). The Board of Trade are about to appoint a Committee to inquire into the whole question of communication between lightships and the shore. The hon. and gallant Member will, therefore, understand that I shall not be a position to make a statement on the subject until the Committee hare made their Report.