MR. F. A. CHINNING (Northampton, E.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether any representative of the Board of Trade was present at the inquest held on. Frank Niblett, a carriage washer, who was killed at the Joint Bristol Station, on Saturday, 6th March; and whether any inquiry has been directed to be mole by an inspector or sub-inspector into the circumstances, and especially into the allegation that, while shunting and carriage washing go on most of the night, there is no adequate lighting of this portion of the lines?
The HON. MEMBER also asked the President of the Board of Trade whether Ins attention had been called to the circumstances under which engine driver Little, of the Great Western Railway Company, met his death recently, and to the admission of the locomotive superintendent that the space between the corner of the archway where the fatality occurred and a passing engine was only about 12 to 14 inches; whether any representative of the Board of Trade was present at the inquest, or whether any local inspection or inquiry had been made or would be made by an inspector or sub-inspector of the Board; and what representations had been or would be made to the Company on the subject?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. RITCHIE,) CroydonI will answer both the hon. Member's Questions at the same time. The Board of Trade have ordered inquiries by a sub-inspector in each case. No application was made in either case by the Coroner for the attendance of an assessor at the inquest.
§ MR. CHANNINGWill the inquiry take place shortly?
§ MR. RITCHIEYes.