§ MR. CROMBIE (Kincardineshire)To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the wreck of the schooner "Benmore," with loss of life, on the rocks at Dunnottar on March 4th; whether lie is aware that assistance was delayed owing to the position of these rocks being shut out from the view of the coastguard station at Stonehaven by the intervening headland; and whether he can arrange to have a watch kept on the headland in communication with the coastguard station.
(Answered by Mr. Gerald Balfour.) Yes, Sir, my attention has been called to the casualty to which the hon. Member refers. From the information I have received it appears that the "Benmore" capsized at 1.30 p.m. on the 4th instant, that news of the casualty reached Stonehaven Coastguard Station at 1.35, and that the life-saving apparatus company assembled speedily and arrived at the scene of the wreck (distant about one mile and a half) at 2.10 p.m. Greater promptitude could, I think, scarcely be ensured, but I shall be happy to call the attention of the Admiralty to the suggestion that a watch should be kept on the headland, the coastguard not being in this matter under the Board of Trade.