§ MR. FIELDI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he can explain why light vessels on the Irish coast are not provided with unsinkable boats similar to those considered necessary and enforced to be carried, by Order in Council, by all merchant vessels for the protection of their crews; whether the "Puffin" was provided with such boats; and whether he will draw the attention of the Irish Lights Commissioners to the necessity of making such provision without further delay.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. GERALD BALFOUR, Leeds. Central)I am informed by the Commissioners of Irish Lights, and also by the Trinity House, that it has not hitherto been considered necessary to supply lightships with unsinkable boats. The "Puffin" was not provided with such boats, but the Court which inquired into the loss of that lightship reported that she was provided with proper and sufficient boats. I propose to ask the General Lighthouse Authorities to consider whether it would 725 not be desirable to substitute a lifeboat for one of the boats now carried by each lightship.