§ MR. WEIRI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to a serious accident which occurred in a public street in Bournemouth on the afternoon of the 8th instant, by which one horse was instantly killed and another seriously 280 injured, and the lives of passengers endangered who were in the omnibus to which the horses were attached; whether the accident was caused by a leakage of high tension electricity from the electric wires laid under the street; and whether steps will be taken to prevent similar accidents occurring in the streets of London, where so many high voltage systems are in constant use under the thoroughfares?
§ MR. MUNDELLAYes, Sir. The electrical adviser of the Board of Trade was instructed on the day of the accident to make inquiry on the spot. I shall be happy to hand to the hon. Member a copy of the Report which discloses the Inspector's opinion of the probable causes of the accident. The Board of Trade are now considering whether any additional Regulations are necessary in order to prevent similar accidents in future.
§ *MR. WEIRasked whether the high tension or low tension system is in use for lighting the House of Commons; and whether, seeing that the floor of this House is composed of an iron grating, precautions have been taken to prevent a similar accident to that which took place at Bournemouth occurring to Members of this House?
§ MR. MUNDELLAThat question must be addressed to the First Commissioner of Works.