§ MR. MCARTHUR (Liverpool, Kirkdale)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the objections which are entertained to the control of the local lights of the Port of London by Trinity House and the payment of the cost of the said lights out of the General Lighthouse Fund, while the local lights of the principal provincial ports are controlled by the Port Authorities and maintained by local dues; and whether he has it in contemplation to take any action in the matter.
§ MR. CHURCHILLI am advised that such a transfer as is proposed within the area of the Port of London would only result in a saving of between £3,000 to £4,000 a year to the General Lighthouse Fund, a saving which would be imperceptible to the shipowners, inasmuch as the annual expenditure out of this fund is about half a million. On the other hand, a much greater burden would be cast upon the Port Authority, as a duplicate staff and plant would have to be provided. In these circumstances I am not prepared to take any action in the direction proposed, but I should add that I have decided to reduce the light dues as from 1st April next by a further 10 per cent., representing an estimated saving to the shipowners of some £60,000 a year.