§ SIR GEORGE BARTLEY (Islington, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the public danger caused by the laying down of exposed rails charged with high electric currents without due safeguards; and, if so, what steps he proposes to take to prevent the danger of loss of life.
§ MR. BONAR LAWYes; Sir, the Board of Trade are fully alive to the dangers which may arise from this method of traction unless it is adequately safeguarded. As stated in a reply to a Question put by the hon. Member for the Cleveland Division of Yorkshire on the 7th ultimo,† recommendations as to the steps to be taken to prevent accidents from contact with such rails have been made from time to time to railway companies and have been adopted by them, and the matter is one that receives unremitting consideration from the inspecting officers of the Department in the course of their duties.