§ Mr. JOHN WARDasked the First Lord; of the Admiralty whether his attention 2013 has been called to the death of a man named T. Albert as the result of an accident while removing coal from the "Mercedes" in Portsmouth Harbour; whether any report has been received upon the subject at the Board of Admiralty, and, if so, does it contain statements that the machinery was defective, and had been so for a long time; that such defects had caused many injuries to the men employed; and, if so, whether, under these circumstances, he will prevent the use of this faulty apparatus, and otherwise take all necessary steps to protect the workmen employed in this branch of his Department?
§ The FIRST LORD of the ADMIRALTY (Mr. McKenna)A report on the subject has been received. The machinery in use at the time of the accident has been examined by representatives of the Admiralty, the engineering manager of the dockyard and the contractors, who report that it was in perfect condition and working order. There is no record of any previous accident having been caused by defect in the machinery. Coaling is necessarily an operation attended with some degree of danger, but all possible precautions are taken to ensure protection to the men employed in connection therewith.
§ Mr. JOHN WARDIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the verdict of the jury was that the accident was caused by defective apparatus?
§ Mr. McKENNANo; I was not aware of that, but I will inquire into the statement of my hon. Friend.