§ * MR. EMMOTT (Oldham)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he has yet had an opportunity of considering the Report (No. 1316) of a Preliminary Inquiry under the Boiler Explosions Acts, 1882 and 1890, into the circumstances of an explosion on the steam lifeboat "Duke of Northumberland," on the 26th June, 1901, in which two men lost their lives and a third was severely scalded; whether he can inform the House why a formal inquiry was not held in this case; and whether he will consider the advisability of ordering a formal inquiry to be held in future in reference to any case of explosion of a boiler resulting in the loss of life.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. GERALD BALFOUR,) Leeds, CentralYes, Sir. My attention has been called to the case to which the hon. Member refers. I am advised that the cause of this explosion was a latent defect that could not have been detected by examination; and, seeing that the boiler had been satisfactorily tested by hydraulic pressure, and twice examined by an expert after repairs, it did not appear that a charge of negligence could be sustained against any individual. The preliminary inquiry held under the Statute showed that no doubt existed as to the cause of the explosion. Where this is the case and where there is no question of negligence it does not appear to me that any useful purpose would be served by holding a formal investigation.
§ * MR. EMMOTTMay I ask whether in the report of the Engineer some blame was not thrown on the engineering firm who repaired the boiler?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOUR.No, Sir.