§ MR. HARRY FOSTER (Suffolk, Lowestoft)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that serious injury is being caused to the property of British fishermen by the position of the wreck Elbe, and of the powerlessness either of the Board of Trade or of the Trinity House 285 to do anything in the matter, he is prepared to introduce a short Bill for the purpose of giving legal power to the Board of Trade to expend money in this and similar cases for the purpose of either dispersing the wreck or of marking the spot, or alternatively; and whether, in the event of the Introduction of a private Bill for this purpose, the Government will give facilities for its consideration by the House?
§ MR. BRYCEthe only existing fund which could be made available by legislation for the purpose suggested in the question, is the Mercantile Marine Fund; and I cannot encourage the hope that such a charge as this, which might become very heavy, can be thrown upon that fund, to which, moreover, fishing vessels do not contribute. Neither am I prepared to recommend that money should be voted by Parliament for that purpose.