§ MR. BELL (Derby)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that seven accidents, due to brake failures and resulting in loss of lives, have occurred on corporation and other electric tramways within the last eighteen months; and whether, in view of the development of electric traction, he will appoint a Committee to inquire into the best system of brake-power which should be adopted, with a view to its compulsory adoption, in the same manner as on railways, in order to prevent such recurrences.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. LLOYD-GEORGE,) Carnavon BoroughsI am aware that there have been several fatal accidents in the period mentioned due to tramcars running away or leaving the rails, and that in some cases the brake mechanism was in fault. The whole question of tramway braking appliances is at present being investigated by Committees appointed by the Tramways and Light Railways Association and the Municipal Tramways Association respectively, and the Board of Trade have expressed their willingness to assist in a joint inquiry at a later stage.