§ MR. HARRY FOSTER (Suffolk, Lowestoft)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the 230 s. s. Elbe is lying in from 17 to 20 fathoms of water, and that the trucks of her masts can be seen above water; that she is on a shallow fishing bank, and is not only a danger to trawlers, but a standing danger to navigation, as can be amply confirmed by Lowestoft fishermen: whether he is still advised that no funds are available, and that no authority exists for the purpose of removing the danger; and whether he has any remedy to suggest?
THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. J. BEYCE, Aberdeen, S.)I have six times already answered questions from the hon Member 231 substantially the same as the present one, and I have nothing to add to what I then told him.
§ MR. HARRY FOSTERasked whether the right hon. Gentleman had taken steps to ascertain whether it was true that this wreck was visible in certain tidal conditions and was an impediment to navigation?
§ MR. BRYCEsaid, that though the wreck might interfere with the business of trawlers, it was not regarded as a standing impediment to navigation.
§ *MR. T. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)asked whether the right hon. Gentleman had referred to Section 659 of the Merchant Shipping Act, which gave him power to allocate from the Mercantile Marine Fund money for the removal of wrecks like this.
§ MR. BRYCEsaid, that he did not think that the Mercantile Marine Fund could be rightly made available for the purpose. He had considered the section referred to, and had come to the conclusion that what the hon. Member sugguested could not be done.
§ MR. HARRY FOSTERgave notice that, in consequence of the reply given by the right hon. Member, he should move in Committee of Supply to reduce the right hon. Gentleman's salary.