§ Mr. JAMES THOMASasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that several railway companies have recently issued notices to their servants, threatening punishment if Rule 55 is not observed; whether he is aware that this rule is causing alarm amongst railway servants affected, owing to the many and varied circumstances which render it dangerous, and in some cases impossible, to carry out; and whether, having regard to the public importance of this matter, he will consider the advisability of appointing a committee to consider the recent railway accidents with a view to the adoption of some standard mechanical appliance 904 that would tend to minimise the risk of accidents and also meet the object of Rule 55?
Mr. BUXTONAs I informed my hon. Friend in reply to a previous question the whole matter is receiving my careful consideration, but I have not yet received all the reports of the Inspecting Officers on recent accidents in which the observance of the rule is involved.