§ SIR MARK STEWART (Kirkcudbright)I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works what was the cause of the temporary failure of the electric light on Monday night last; and whether the failure was the result of any defect of the apparatus within the precincts of the House, or whether it was due to any default on the part of the company which supplies the light?
§ THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (Mr. SHAW LEFEVRE,) Bradford, CentralThe temporary failure of 637 the electric light in some parts of the House on Monday last occurred in the case only of those lights supplied by the Westminster Electric Supply Company, and not in those connected with engines in the House. The failure was due to the melting by the electric current of one of the main safety fuses at the junction of the company's main cables with a main in the building. The current does not appear to have been abnormally strong. The fuse, therefore, which was originally supplied by the company must either have been originally too weak, or have been weakened by use. It is now proposed to replace it by one with a greater fusing margin.