§ MR. W. JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.)On behalf of the honourable Member for North Antrim, I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the absence of fog-signalling apparatus at the Maiden Rocks, off Larne Lough, and also at Blackhead, Belfast Lough, there having been a number of wrecks at these points in recent years; and whether the Government will take steps to induce the Commissioners of Irish Lights to recognise that the state of the northern coast of Ireland constitutes a serious danger to shipping, with reference especially to the deficiency of fog-signalling, and to take action in the matter?
THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (Mr. A. AKERS DOUGLAS,, St. Augustine's) KentIn the absence of my right honourable Friend I have to say that the Board of Trade have not received any application for sanction to the establishment of a fog signal at the Maiden Rocks from the Irish Lights Commissioners, who are the only authority who can initiate the construction of lights or fog signals. As regards Blackhead, 847 the Board have been informed by the Commissioners that the latter have applied to the Trinity House for their statutory sanction to the erection of a lighthouse, including fog-signalling apparatus.