§ MR. HOWARD (Middlesex, Tottenham)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the explosion on Southwark Bridge on Friday last, by which several persons were injured, and whether any Report has yet been made by the Inspector with reference to a similar explosion in Cannon Street in November; and, what steps the Board of Trade contemplate taking to protect the public from these dangers which have now become of such common occurrence?
§ MR. J. ROWLANDS (Finsbury, E)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether a thorough investigation is being, or will be, made into the cause of the several street explosions which have recently taken place in London, and especially into the one on Southwark Bridge on the 1st instant?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. BRYCE, Aberdeen, S.)I will answer the questions of the hon. Members for Tottenham and East Finsbury together. Inquiries have been held into the causes of the recent explosions in street boxes in Cannon Street, the Euston Road and Southwark. The Reports shall be laid upon the Table. The Electric Lighting Regulations of the Board for securing the safety of the public, provide that all street boxes shall be efficiently protected against any accumulation of gas or water, and the Board are earnestly pressing upon Electric Lighting Companies the necessity for full compliance with these Regulations. It is most desirable that the Gas Companies should adopt the best means at their disposal to detect and remedy any defects in their mains, and I am now taking steps to call their attention to the matter.