§ SIR W. J. COLLINS (St. Pancras, W.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he has considered the Report of the local inquiry into the wreck of the "Courier" off Guernsey on April 30th last, whereby seven passengers, including five women and children, were drowned; and whether, in view of the-evidence given, and of the differences in regard to regulations for merchant shipping obtaining in the Channel Islands, from those observed in the British Isles, he will cause further investigation to be made into the circumstances connected with this disaster.
§ MR. LLOYD-GEORGEI have seen the Report of the inquiry held in Guernsey 775 into the wreck of the "Courier." With regard to the differences between the the laws of the United Kingdom and the Channel Islands, I understand that communications are passing between my right hon. friend the Home Secretary and the Channel Islands authorities on the subject. The Board of Trade will be glad to co-operate in any measures that may be taken to bring the laws of the Channel Islands and the United Kingdom into harmony so far as it may be necessary to do so.
§ SIR W. J. COLLINSasked whether the Government would consider the propriety of introducing a new clause into the Merchant Shipping Bill making it applicable to the Channel Islands.
§ MR. LLOYD-GEORGEWe could hardly legislate for the Channel Islands. We do not legislate for the Colonies. We approach them, if necessary, to bring their legislation into line with our own.