HC Deb 19 November 1888 vol 330 c1501
MR. CHANNING (Northampton, E.)

asked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether he can state when the Departmental Committee, appointed last year by the Board of Trade to inquire into the whole question of signalling at sea, will make their Report; whether Her Majesty's Government received last summer an invitation from the Government of the United States to join in an International Conference to consider this question of signalling at sea, and the possible amendment of the International Regulations of Navigation; and, whether that invitation had been accepted; and, if so, when the proposed Conference will be held?

THE PRESIDENT (Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH) (Bristol, W.)

, in reply, said, that the Departmental Committee was still engaged in considering the question of signalling at sea; and as it was necessary to communicate with the Governments of countries interested some time must yet elapse before the Committee could report. Her Majesty's Government had received an invitation to the International Conference, which, he understood, was to take place in April next. Correspondence had passed between Her Majesty's Government and the United States Government as to the subjects to be dealt with by the Conference; and the question whether the invitation should be accepted was still under consideration.