MR. T. M. HEALYI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the great waste, expense, and trouble caused by the annual repetition in Provisional Orders dealing with electric lighting of common form clauses; whether he will consider the desirability of bringing in a Public Bill containing model clauses dealing with electricity, on the principle of the Gas and Lands Clauses Acts; and if his Department will endeavour to keep Irish Provisional Orders by themselves, instead of incorporating them in English and Scotch Acts?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF TEE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. RITCHIE, Croydon)Yes, Sir, my attention has been called to 1234 the subject referred to by the hon. and learned Member, and whenever an opportunity occurs I think it is desirable that I should introduce a Clauses Consolidation Measure of the kind mentioned. As far as possible Provisional Orders dealing with electric lighting in Ireland will be grouped in separate Bills.
MR. T. M. HEALYasked whether there was any objection on the part of the Board of Trade to transfer their powers relating to this subject to a department in Dublin?
§ MR. RITCHIEThat is a very large question. It would, of course, require legislation to authorise the transfer suggested by the hon. Gentleman. I may, however, point out to the hon. Gentleman that the Board of Trade here have great experience in matters of this hind, and that it has accumulated a stock of knowledge which it would be difficult to transfer to an Irish department. ["Hear, hear!" and laughter.]