§ SIR GEORGE BADEN-POWELL (Liverpool, Kirkdale)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether the Departmental Committee on the Mercantile Marine Fund has reported that the receipts from light dues exceed the expenditure for lighting our coasts by an average sum for the last 12 years exceeding £56,000; and, whether the whole question of the provision for the lighting of our coasts can now be referred to a Select Committee of this House, so that a final and complete settlement can be arrived at on this vexed question?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. RITCHIE,) CroydonYes, Sir; but my hon. Friend is aware that the Legislature has placed upon the Mercantile Marine Fund charges other than those directly connected with lighting. Having regard to the recent investigation of the question by the Departmental Committee, I see no reason for asking the House to appoint a Select Committee to further inquire into the matter.
§ SIR G. BADEN-POWELLMay I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that the Departmental Committee distinctly reported that they refrained from dealing with the whole question of light dues because it was outside the terms of their reference?
§ MR. RITCHIEI do not think they quite said that. What they said was that the question whether the cost of lighting the coast should be contributed by the Treasury and the shipowners entirely relieved of it, did not come within their province. I am not prepared to recommend that a Committee should be appointed to inquire into the matter.