LIFE-SAVING APPARATUS AT COASTGUARD STATIONS.

HC Deb 15 March 1894 vol 22 cc307-8

MR. GIBSON BOWLES

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he can explain how it is that the claim of £7,815 2s. 2d. for storing life-saving apparatus at coastguard stations, made by the Admiralty against the Board of Trade in 1891 and submitted to the Treasury, has not yet been settled?

THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Sir J. T. HIBBERT,) Oldham

The Mercantile Marine Fund, which is administered by the Board of Trade, has claims against the Admiralty and other Departments for services rendered to them. The Admiralty and other Departments have claims against the Mercantile Marine Fund, of which that of £7,815 2s. 2d. for storing life-saving apparatus is one. These claims may probably, so far as they will go, be set against one another. But no precise adjustment can be made until the time comes for a revision of the conditions on which the Grant in Aid of the Mercantile Marine Fund is based. These conditions are under discussion between the Board of Trade and the Treasury.