§ MR. JOYCE (Limerick)To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the hardship of the case of Pilot William M'Kinlay, who was convicted of an alleged offence of reckless navigation by the Glasgow Sheriffs Court on 15th May last, he proposes to take any steps to bring about an amendment of the law so as to assimilate the law of Scotland as far as possible with that of the other parts of the United Kingdom, and so prevent the recurrence of similar cases.
1188 (Answered by Mr. Churchill.) So far as I am aware, the law in Scotland in cases such as those referred to by the hon. Member is practically the same as in other parts of the United Kingdom. I have, however, under consideration the question of instituting an inquiry into various matters affecting pilotage throughout the United Kingdom. Should such an inquiry take place, the pilots will doubtless be afforded an opportunity of submitting evidence as to any points in which they think the law requires amendment.