§ MR. CHARLES McARTHUR (Liverpool, Exchange)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether the lighthouse authorities are required to submit all estimates for expenditure, whether for maintenance or new works, in detail, for the approval of the Board of Trade; what course is taken in case any proposed expenditure is disapproved; why the Board of Trade have limited the scope of the Advisory Committee to proposed expenditure on new works; and whether he can extend the powers of that Committee.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. GERALD BALFOUR,) Leeds, CentralThe Answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative; if proposed expenditure is disapproved it cannot be incurred. The functions of the Advisory Committee have from the first been limited to new works. It is upon such technical matters as the position of new lighthouses or new light vessels that the advice of shipowners is of value to the Board of Trade and the lighthouse authorities. I do not think any useful purpose would be served by extending the scope of the advisory duties of the Committee.
§ MR. CHARLES McARTHURIs it not the case that ships have been excluded?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURWe do not regard ships as new works. The appointment of this Committee was an act ex gratia. There was no obligation on the Department to appoint it.