§ MR. JASPER TULLY (Leitrim, S.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been directed to the frequent explosions from the use of inferior paraffin oil imported from abroad; whether he can state what steps are taken by the inspectors employed by his Department to investigate cases where loss of life occurs from these explosions; and whether it is intended to reappoint the Select Committee that inquired in the previous Session into matters connected with the use of petroleum?
§ SIR M. W. RIDLEYanswered the Question, and said: My attention has been called to the great number of explosions of paraffin oil, though I cannot express an opinion as to whether they are due to the inferior quality of the oil, to the use of unsuitable lamps, or to other causes. The Home Office Inspectors have no power whatever to make inquiries in these cases. The necessity of legislation on this subject has been frequently urged, and a Select 681 Committee to consider the question was appointed in 1894. My predecessor hoped to obtain a Committee in the last Session, but circumstances prevented it. I shall consider the matter during the Recess with a view to the re-appointment of the Committee if that be found practicable.