§ SIR CHARLES CAYZER (Barrow-in-Furness)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that no inspection or report on the condition of the Irish lighthouses, buoys, and beacons, excepting Tralee and Fenit, has been made by the Commissioners of Irish Lights and forwarded to the Board of Trade, in accordance with the provisions of Section 652 of the Merchant Shipping Act of 1894, during the years 1898, 1899, 1900, and 1901; and, seeing the Commissioners of Irish Lights state in their Report that it is not incumbent on the general lighthouse authorities to make inspections or reports at any specified period, but as they think fit, whether he will say whose duty it is to inspect and report on the condition of the Irish lights, and issue instructions for this to be regularly carried out in future.
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative, but I must point out to my hon. friend that the duty of inspecting under the section relates only to the light houses, buoys and beacons belonging to, or under the management of local lighthouse authorities. It is the duty of the Commissioners of Irish Lights to inspect all such lighthouses, buoys, and beacons, and to make general reports of the results of their inspections to the Board of Trade, but as the Commissioners point out, there is no obligation upon them to inspect or report at any specified period. The Board of Trade have no power to issue any instructions, but I have called the attention of the Commissioners to the fact that no systematic inspection has been made during the last four years, and I have been informed by them that they are taking steps to make further inspections during the present year.
§ MR. FLYNNAre we to understand that the Commissioners of Irish Lights are entirely independent of Parliamentary control or responsibility?
§ MR. FLAVINCan the right hon. Gentleman say where their Reports can be seen? I can never find them.
§ [No answer was returned.]