HC Deb 02 June 1899 vol 72 cc181-2
MR. CHANNING (Northampton, E.)

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade why the Board of Trade did not send a representative to attend the inquest, held at Desborough on Thursday, 25th May, on two persons killed at the level crossing at Desborough Station on Saturday, 20th May, although the coroner specially adjourned the inquest from Saturday to the following Thursday to enable the Board to be represented; whether he has considered the rider appended to their verdict by the jury blaming the Midland Railway Company for not providing an official to warn passengers crossing, and for not providing a safe means of crossing at this station; whether he is aware that on Tuesday, 23rd May, about a dozen people were exposed to serious risk from an express train while crossing the line at the same place; whether an inquiry will be held by an Inspector of the Board of Trade; and, whether he will now bring in legislation giving powers to the Board of Trade to make compulsory orders to supply footbridges or subways when necessary?

THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. RITCHIE,) Croydon

The Board of Trade do not send representatives to attend inquests unless the coroner applies for the appointment of an assessor under Section 8 of the Regulation of Railways Act, 1871. No application was made by the Coroner. The Board of Trade have communicated with the Midland Railway Company with regard to the rider to the verdict of the Coroner's Jury. I was not aware of the occurrence to which the hon. Member refers as having taken place on the 23rd ultimo. If necessary an inquiry will be held by one of the Board's inspectors. I do not propose to introduce any legislation on the subject.

MR. CHANNING

Do I understand the right hon. Gentleman to say that an inquiry will be held into the amount of risk at this special crossing, or will it be into the accident itself?

MR. RITCHIE

Not into the accident. That is not necessary, having regard to the evidence given before the coroner's inquest. The inquiry to which I refer is in respect of the risk to which people are exposed from express trains, having regard to the fact that there is no bridge over the line.

MR. CHANNING

Will that inquiry be held?

MR. RITCHIE

I have told the hon. Gentleman it will be held if necessary. We are in communication with the railway company on the subject, and I cannot yet say definitely one way or the other.

MR. CHANNING

The right honr Gentleman has implied that a coroner must make application in the specific form set out in section 8 of the Act of 1871. I should like to ask him whether the letter of which I have a copy here, and which was sent to the Board of Trade by the coroner, explaining that he had specially adjourned the inquest of five days in order to admit of the Board of Trade being represented, is not sufficient for the purpose?

MR. RITCHIE

Certainly not. Before a Board of Trade Inspector is sent to an inquest, a request to that effect must be made by the coroner. The letter to which the hon. Gentleman refers was not a request at all. It was simply a statement that the inquest had been adjourned so that, if the Board of Trade thought it necessary, they could send an inspector. The Board of Trade did not think it necessary. No application was made under the Act.