§ Mr. FELLasked which Department of the Government is now concerned with the watching of our coasts in the interests of the mercantile marine; and if that Department accepts responsibility for the adequate carrying out of this duty, and for any loss if life which may be occasioned by neglect of this duty?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe Board of Trade is the Department responsible for the management of the rocket life-saving apparatus for saving life from shipwreck, and the Admiralty, through the medium of the Coastguard, undertake certain services in connection with life saving. As my right hon Friend the President of the Board of Trade has already stated in reply to a question put by my hon. Friend the Member for North Somerset on the 16th instant, the Board of Trade are fully alive to the importance of this matter, and are taking active steps to ascertain whether the present arrangements for watching the coast require strengthening in any way.
§ The PRIME MINISTERI think it works very well.