§ MR. BUCHANAN (Aberdeenshire, E.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether sanction has been given to the erection of a lighthouse on the Flannan Islands; and whether the work will be commenced at an early date?
§ MR. MUNDELLAThe Board of Trade have intimated to the Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses that they are prepared to sanction the erection of a lighthouse on the Flannan Islands, whenever the Mercantile Marine Fund will permit of expenditure for the purpose, which they regret to say is not the case at present.
§ MR. BUCHANANinquired if, as this lighthouse was much desired by all persons interested in navigation in the North, the right hon. Gentleman could not now sanction such preliminary expenditure as would enable the work of construction to be effectively commenced next year?
§ MR. MUNDELLAreplied that the works at present in hand would absorb all the available funds for several years; but when there were funds available, he would be only too happy to forward this work.