§ MR. CHIOZZA MONEY (Paddington, N.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been directed to the fact that on Friday evening, 19th October, Mr. Edward Morgan, being then in sole charge of the Maindee West signal-box, the most important in the Newport district, had a paralytic seizure, and that, with extraordinary presence of mind, he locked all signals at danger before losing consciousness; whether he will direct the attention of the Great Western Railway Company to the danger both to the health of signalmen and the travelling public which arises from the practice of placing a man for long hours in solitary confinement in an important signal-box; and whether he can state to what extent this practice prevails on the Great Western and other British railways.
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY TO THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. KEARLEY,) DevonportI have no information other than references in the 1121 Press with regard to the case mentioned by my hon. friend. I am advised that, except at large signal-boxes at terminal stations and important junctions, it is the usual custom for one signalman to be alone in charge of the box. I am not aware that this practice has led to accidents, and the matter does not appear to be one that calls for any action on the part of the Board of Trade. The normal position of a signal is, of course, at danger.
§ MR. CHIOZZA MONEYDoes the hon. Gentleman approve of only one man being in charge of so important a signal-box?
§ MR. KEARLEYWe will make representations on the subject.