Captain CRAIGasked the Prime Minister whether, if the Irish Lights Commissioners continue in their determination to moor Strangford Bar buoy 6½ miles out from the Bar mouth, against the opinion of every navigator of those waters, local shippers, pilots, and fishermen, in a position not only useless but actually dangerous to navigation, he will introduce legislation at an early date transferring the powers of the Commissioners to a body of practical men?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Churchill)My right hon. Friend has requested me to reply to this question. The question of the beat position of the buoy referred to is, as the hon. Member is aware, now under reconsideration between the Irish Lights Commissioners and the Trinity House. Nothing that has occurred so far in connection with this case appears to me to justify the suggestion made by the hon. Member.
Captain CRAIGIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Under-Secretary stated, a few days ago, that this question had not yet been considered? The right hon. Gentleman now says that the question is under consideration.
§ Mr. T. M. HEALYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is not a single Member of any Irish party, or any section of any Irish party, in favour of the continuance of this buoy in its present position?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThat may be so, but I cannot say. I do not know what kind of answer the hon. and learned Gentleman expects me to give.
Captain CRAIGI respectfully ask for an answer to my question. The Under-Secretary stated a few days ago that there was no correspondence between Trinity House and the Irish Lights Commissioners, and now he says that they are reconsidering the matter. Is he or the Under-Secretary correct?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI am informed that the question is under reconsideration. I suppose that the information which my hon. Friend gave at the time was correct.