§ MR. MACDONAI beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that a deputation waited upon the Prime Minister on the 16th instant to lay before him a Petition signed by about 900 masters of vessels, representing about 31,000 seamen, praying the Government to take immediate action in concert with the United States Government for the destruction of floating derelicts, now so numerous and so dangerous to the lives of passengers and seamen crossing the Atlantic; whether the present Prime Minister is as willing to act in concert with the American Government as the late Prime Minister stated himself to be in January last; and what steps do the Government propose to take to bring about so desirable an undertaking?
§ MR. MUNDELLAMy right hon. Friend has requested me to answer this question. The Prime Minister has forwarded to me for consideration the Memorial referred to by the hon. Member. It bears the signatures of 891 persons stated to be masters of British ships. Conferences have already taken place between the Admiralty and the Board of Trade on this question, and, in 1008 concert with the First Lord, it is arranged to appoint a Departmental Committee, on which the Admiralty and the Board of Trade are to be represented, to consider and report on the Memorials which have been received, and the correspondence which has taken place on the subject of floating derelicts.