§ MR. MADDISON (Burnley)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the railway shunting accidents for last year exceeded those of 1906 by about 40 per 1756 cent., those of 1895 by nearly 95 percent., and those of 1887, the year is which railway companies adopted the shunting pole, by no less than 250 per cent.; whether coupling and uncoupling" accidents have proportionately increased!, by 30 per cent, since 1889, when the Automatic Couplings Bill was withdrawn; and whether he is taking any steps under the Act of 1900 to select, automatic couplings and to enforce their adoption on the railways of the United Kingdom.
§ * THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY TO THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. KEARLEY,) DevonportThe comparison* suggested by my hon. friend are misleading, owing to the fact that the basis, of the Returns of non fatal accidents was altered in 1895 and again in 1906. As regards fatal accidents connected with the coupling and uncoupling of vehicles the figures are: 1887, 26; 1895, 16; 1899, 16; 1906,9; 1907, 18. The question of improved couplings! is at present under the consideration of the Railway Employment Safety Appliances Committee, who have, however, expressed the view that there is good reason to doubt whether the adoption, of an automatic coupling would tend appreciably to reduce the number of accidents.