§ MR. JOHN ELLIS (Nottinghamshire, Rushcliffe)To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state how the matters stand of mak- 258 ing of rules under Section 1, the inspection of railways under Section 13, and the making inquiries and experiments under Section 15 of The Railway Employment (Prevention of Accidents) Act, 1900.
(Answered by Mr. Gerald Balfour.) In my reply to a Question by the hon. Member on the 8th of February,† I mentioned certain experiments to be conducted in connection with the rule proposed as to either-side brakes on goods waggons. These experiments have now been carried out, with the result that none of the brakes tested proved thoroughly satisfactory. Further experiments are in contemplation, and I hope a satisfactory either-side break may be found. A Rule granting the Taff Vale Railway Company some exemption from No. 8 of the Rules of 1902 has been prepared in accordance with the decision of the Railway and Canal Commissioners, and certain objections and suggestions which have been received are being dealt with in the manner prescribed by the Act. Since the 8th February inspections have been ordered of seventy-two stations and sidings in connection with either the lighting thereof or the operation of propping and tow-roping.