§ MR. CHANNING (Northamptonshire, E.)To ask the President of the Board 6 of Trade what Orders, if any, have been made by the Board under Section 1, Subsection (f), of The Railways (Electric Power) Act, 1903, for securing the safety of the public; whether such Orders include adequate protection from contact with a live rail; whether any of the fatal and other accidents which have occurred from contact with live rails have been found to be due to the neglect of the companies to comply with the terms of Orders of the Board, or to neglect of other precautions; and what steps the Board are now taking or will take to effectually prevent the recurrence of such accidents.
(Answered by Mr. Gerald Balfour.) No Orders have yet been made under the Act referred to. Inquiries are being held into two recent accidents that occurred through the electrical working of railways, and when the reports of these inquiries are received the question of the precautions to be taken will be fully considered.