§ 37. Mr. THOMASasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that a wagon repairer, named F. Birchenall, was killed in May last at Buxton shunting sidings, London and North-Western Railway, and that it was shown, both at the inquest and the subsequent Board of Trade inquiry, that there is no siding, usually known as the cripple siding, for wagons under repairs at this station, and which renders it very dangerous to the men employed there; and, if so, whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?
Mr. ROBERTSONThe officer who inquired into this accident reported that it was due to the man's failure to take the 1471 necessary steps for his protection in accordance with his instructions. Although the siding in which repairs to wagons are usually carried out is not used exclusively for this purpose, I am advised that the instructions referred to should afford adequate protection if duly carried out. I will, however, cause inquiries to be made whether or not it would be practicable to provide a cripple siding at this station.