§ 49. Sir EDWIN CORNWALLasked the Prime Minister whether lie is aware that, contrary to the findings of the recent Departmental Committee on Pilotage, the Select Committee on the Pilotage Bill, 1870, the Thames Traffic Committee, 1879, and the Select Committee on Pilotage, 1888, the Pilotage Bill largely extends the immunity of shipowners from liability for damage done by their vessels, and that the Port of London Authority and the London County Council and numerous harbour, dock, and other authorities and trading interests in many parts of the Kingdom are opposed to the Bill in its present form; whether the Government propose, notwithstanding this, to proceed with the Bill this Session; and, if so, will he arrange that the Bill shall not be taken after Eleven o'clock at night and that a sufficient number of days are given to the Report stage to allow these important authorities and trading interests who are adversely affected by the Bill to have their case properly put before Parliament and considered?
Mr. ROBERTSONMy right hon. Friend has requested me to reply to this question. I cannot admit that the Pilotage Bill largely extends the immunity of shipowners from liability for damage done by their vessels. As my hon. Friend is aware, an Amendment has been introduced into the Bill by the Standing Committee which meets his point so far as closed docks are concerned, and the various questions at issue are likely to be again discussed to morrow by the Committee. I can only say that my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade will give the fullest consideration to any proposals which are put forward on behalf of the interests which my hon. Friend represents. The President hopes that the Report stage will be a short one, but he cannot at present give any undertaking in regard to it.
§ Sir E. CORNWALLWill the Prime Minister give this matter his consideration? I thought all questions relating to the business of this House were matters for him, and therefore I addressed the question to him and not to the President 30 of the Board of Trade. Will the right hon. Gentleman give this question his specific consideration?
§ The PRIME MINISTERCertainly I will.