§ MR. SOARESTo ask the President of the Board of Trade upon what fund falls the expense of buoying the estuary of the Taw and Torridge; upon whom falls the responsibility for the efficiency of such buoying; and whether the President of the Board of Trade is responsible in the House of Commons in the event of the buoys being insufficient, inefficient. and dangerous to life.
(Answered by Mr. Kearley.) There being no local lighthouse authority for this estuary the superintendence and management of lighthouses, buoys, and beacons is vested by statute in the Trinity House, and the expense falls upon the general lighthouse fund. The responsibility for the efficiency of the buoying rests with the Trinity House. I may remind my hon. friend that it is proposed to refer the whole Question of the administration of the general lighthouse authorities to a Royal Commission.