§ SIR GEORGE BADEN - POWELL (Liverpool, Kirkdale)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state, for the last two financial years, what have been the amounts received from Light Dues for Colonial Lighthouses under Imperial management, and what has been the amount expended on these lighthouses; and what has been done with the surplus in either year, if any?
§ MR. RITCHIEsaid there was received for dues for lighthouses on or off Ceylon £15,242. 19s. 4d. in 1895–6 and £10,585. 13s. 8d. in 1896–7, and the amounts expended on those lighthouses were, in 1895–6, £4,933. 18s. 7d., and in 1896–7, £4,851. 3s. 3d. The surplus for the two years has been added to the Reserve Fund for the maintenance of these lighthouses and cannot under existing law be devoted to other purposes. The cost of the other Colonial Lighthouses under imperial management (at the Bahamas, Falkland Islands and Sombrero) is borne by moneys voted by Parliament. it amounted to £12,692. 11s. 4d. in 1895–6 and £12,822. 12s. 0d. in 1896–7.