§ Mr. MARTINasked whether Section 464, Sub-sections (1), (4), and (5), of the British Merchant Shipping Act provides for an investigation similar to that undertaken by the Senate of the United States, and applying to any ship sailing under any flag sunk or disabled in any part of the world provided only that there is a witness resident in the United Kingdom?
Mr. BUXTONSections 464 and 466 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, provide that an investigation may be held into the loss of any ship in any part of the world if a witness is found in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. BOTTOMLEYasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that, under Sub-section (5) of Section 466 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, it is the duty of those who put a Wreck Inquiry Court in motion to superintend the management of the case; and whether, having regard to the position of the Board of Trade in connection with the "Titanic" disaster, he will consider the propriety of instituting some other inquiry and one in which the Board will not be in charge of the proceedings?
Mr. BUXTONI would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my hon. Friend the Prime Minister made on Thursday last to the hon. Member for East St. Pancras.
§ Mr. PETOasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, having regard to the position of the Board of Trade in connection with the "Titanic" disaster, it is his intention to put in force the provision of Sub-section (9) of Section 463 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, namely, that the Board of Trade may in any case they think fit so to do pay the costs of any such formal investigation?
Mr. BUXTONI cannot at present say more than that the Court has full power to deal with the costs of the investigation.