§ MR. E. H. BAYLEYI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if he can state approximately how many lives have been lost round the British coast during the recent gale; how many lives have been saved by the coastguard, and how many by means of ordinary fishing and other private boats; and how many lives have been lost by the capsizing of the so-called self-righting lifeboats?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. MUNDELLA,) Sheffield, BrightsideI regret that the loss of life round our coasts during the recent gale has been almost unprecedented. The Board of Trade have already received Returns showing a loss of 237 lives; but, as additional Reports are being hourly received, I fear the total number will ultimately prove to be still greater. The following Returns have been received by the Board of Trade up to 1 o'clock to-day:—
| Table showing approximately the number of lives lost on or near the British Coasts during the gale of the 16th—20th November, showing also the number of lives saved by the coastguard, the number of lives saved by means of ordinary fishing and other private boats, and the number of lives lost by the capsizing of the so-called self-righting lifeboats. | ||||||
| Total number of lives lost. | Number lost by the Capsizing of lifeboats. | Number of lives saved by coast-guard, life-saving apparatus, and help from shore. | Number of lives saved by fishing and other private boats. | Number of lives saved by ships' boats. | Number of lives saved by means of lifeboats. | Number of lives saved by other means. |
| 237 | 1 | 198 | 102 | 68 | 105 | 35 |
| Total lost | … | 237 |
| Total saved | … | 508 |
§ I may add, however that the National Lifeboat Institution say that 102 lives have been saved in addition to those of which we have received Returns.
§ MR. A. C. MORTON (Peterborough)May I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman does not think the time has arrived for the Government to do something to protect the lives of our sailors in storms?
§ MR. MUNDELLAThe Government have done a great deal in that way by supplying life-saving apparatus, supplemented as it is by the National Lifeboat Institution, which is managed, I believe, better than any other institution of the same character. I do not think the Government could have managed any better than the Lifeboat Institution.
§ SIR A. ROLLIT (Islington, S.)May I further ask whether the Board of Trade has power, and, if so, whether it proposes to institute an inquiry into the conduct of the crew of the Mablethorpe lifeboat, which was censured by the coroner's jury, as reported in this morning's papers?
§ MR. MUNDELLAAs soon as that report was brought tinder my notice, I immediately ordered an inquiry. I hope the House will suspend its judgment until we know the result of that inquiry.
§ MR. PENROSE FITZGERALD (Cambridge)Arising out of the manner in which this question has been put, I desire to say that I do not for a moment admit that it was in any way the fault of the crew, or of the self-righting boat at Dungeness, that one life was lost. The men behaved admirably, and had it not been that the boat self-righted, not one life alone, but in all probability many others would have been lost in that desperate gale.