§ MR. CAYZER (Barrow-in-Furness)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether, having regard to the charges now made on all shipping entering the Port of Barrow for the Walney Lighthouse dues, a light which is reported by shipmasters entering that port as useless and not required, he will take steps to enforce the powers the Board of Trade possess, and call upon the proper authorities to inspect this light and report if the light is required, and whether it should not be abolished; and whether he will obtain a Return of the receipts and expenditure of the Walney Light, and the application of the surplus revenue reported to amount to several thousand pounds yearly, which, contrary to the Local Lighthouse Act, is applied by the Lancaster Harbour Commissioners and Furness Railway Company to other purposes than maintenance of the light?
§ MR. MUNDELLAWalney Island Light was not established merely as a harbour light leading vessels to the Port of Barrow, but for the benefit of all vessels navigating Morecambe Bay. Light dues in connection with it are chargeable under Statute on all vessels trading to the several ports in the district. No complaint has reached the Board of Trade as to its inefficiency for the purpose for which it was instituted. As regards the latter part of the hon. Member's question, the Board are already engaged in collecting the information asked for from the different authorities concerned.