§ MR. MCCARTAN (Down, S.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade, with reference to the insufficiency of the siren on Mew Island, at the entrance to Belfast Lough, whether he is aware that in March, 1894, a loan to the Commissioners of Irish Lights was sanctioned to enable them to carry out experiments on Mew Island; whether, as the result of the experiments, the establishment of a second fog siren was recommended, and this recommendation, having been approved by Trinity House, was sanctioned by the Board of Trade; whether the Commissioners of Irish Lights then promised that the works would be proceeded with at once; and, whether he will now explain the cause of delay, and suggest to the Commissioners the necessity of proceeding with the works forthwith?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. C. T. RITCHIE,) CroydonThe hon. Member is correct in stating that the expenditure for experiments in respect of Mew Island was sanctioned in March, 1894. The Report of these experiments was received by the Board of Trade in May, 1895, and the second siren, recommended therein, was sanctioned in the following July. As regards the subsequent delay, I am informed by the Commissioners of Irish Lights that it is to be attributed partly to the pressure of other urgent work, and partly to the difficulty of working in such an exposed position during the winter months. The Commissioners add that the work is now being proceeded with.