§ MR. WEIR (Ross and Cromarty)On behalf of the hon. Member for West Fifeshire, I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the railway level crossing 1051 at Halbeath Station, Fifeshire, is a source of danger to the public; and, seeing that it is on the main line and numerous express trains pass over it daily, will he consider the advisability of communicating with the North British Railway Company with a view to suitable protection being provided.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. GERALD BALFOUR,) Leeds, CentralThere is no record of any accident having occurred at the level crossing in question within the past twenty-five years and the crossing is not one in regard to which the Board of Trade have any statutory powers. I have, however, communicated with the railway company on the subject of the hon. Member's Question and am informed by them that the crossing is provided with gates interlocked from the signal cabin and these gates are invariably closed in good time to prevent the possibility of anyone using the crossing in such a way as to be endangered by an approaching train. It is added that there is a foot-bridge at the station so that no passenger need use the level crossing to go from one platform to another.