§ MR FELL (Great Yarmouth)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty if the Admiralty regulate the navigation by merchant ships of the waters adjacent to the dockyards at Portsmouth, including the approaches to it through the Solent and Spithead.
§ MR. McKENNAYes, within the limits of the dockyard port. Spithead is within those limits, and that part of the Solent, eastward of a line joining Old Castle Point and Hill Head Point.
§ MR. FELLasked whether, having regard to the frequent serious accidents in the Solent the Admiralty would consider the advisability of extending their jurisdiction west as far as the Needles.
§ MR. McKENNAThe hon. Gentleman is now opening up a very large question to which I could not venture to give an answer off-hand.
§ MR. FELLI beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade if any harbour or port authorities have jurisdiction over the navigation of the waters of the Solent and Spithead, and can make any regulations with regard to speed or other precautions to be observed by ships in fogs or snow or thick weather.
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY TO THE BOARD or TRADE (Mr. KEARLEY,) DevonportThere are no harbour or port authorities having 1386 such jurisdiction outside the limits of the dockyard port of Portsmouth. The Trinity House, however, who have pilotage jurisdiction there, have given instructions to pilots to navigate vessels at a moderate speed when near Cowes and Yarmouth in order to avoid damage to the shores by the wash created by large vessels. The hon. Member is no doubt aware that there are special articles in the Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea issued in pursuance of the Merchant Shipping Act, prescribing special sound signals and moderation of speed in fog, mist, falling snow, or heavy rain storms.