HC Deb 20 March 1902 vol 105 c548
MR. CHARLES M'ARTHUR

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses decided last year to establish a fog signal at Douglas Head Lighthouse, subject to the necessary statutory approval being obtained from Trinity House, which, however, was refused; and, seeing that the Board of Trade have the power to review this decision, and in view of the danger to life and property attending the navigation of vessels approaching the Isle of Man during the prevalence of fog, especially of passenger steamers bound to Douglas, in the absence of a proper fog signal, whether it is intended to allow this requirement to remain unsupplied

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

The Board of Trade, after full consideration, have withheld their statutory sanction to the scheme submitted by the Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses for the establishment of a fog signal at Douglas Head on the ground that it is not required for the purposes of general trade. It is for the local harbour authority to consider what aids to navigation are necessary within their jurisdiction.