§ MR. JOHN ELLIS (Nottinghamshire, Rushcliffe)To ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade whether rules have now been made and are in force with 178 respect to all the subjects mentioned in the schedule to The Railway Employment (Prevention of Accidents) Act, 1900; if not, which of the subjects are still without rules, and at what stage is the action necessary to make or complete the rules respecting it or them; and whether any application has been made to his Department under the provisions of Section 14 of the same Act.
(Answered by Mr. Bonar Law.) Rules have been made with respect to all the subjects in the schedule of the Act referred to with the exception of those numbered 1,7, and 8, and the rules are in force except those relating to boilergauge glasses and water gauges on engines, which come into operation next August. The subjects in the schedule not yet dealt with by rule are "brake levers on both sides of waggons," "the position of offices and cabins near working lines," and "the marking of fouling points." As the hon. Member is aware, the Board of Trade were desirous that the brakes to be used should be capable of being both applied and released from either side of a waggon, and proposed a rule to that effect; but so far no form of brake that has been tested has proved altogether satisfactory. Further trials will, however, be made, and it has been arranged to hold such trials at the beginning of next month. As regards the other points the Board are advised that they can be dealt with, as occasion may arise, more conveniently than by general rule under Section 1 (1) of the Act. No application has been made to the Department under Section 14 of the Act.