§ MR. GIBBS (Bristol, W.)To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will take into consideration the advisability of having all funicular and cliff railways inspected, for the better security of the public.
(Answered by Mr. Churchill.) When such railways are constructed under statutory authority they will, in the ordinary course, be inspected by an 254 officer of the Board of Trade before being opened for passenger traffic. Where, however, promoters choose to make and open a railway without obtaining such authority, the law as it stands at present confers no power and imposes no responsibility on the Board of Trade for the safety of the line, which must rest entirely with the promoters.