HC Deb 06 July 1914 vol 64 cc809-11
21. Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTT

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make inquiry as to the daily hours of labour of the crews of railway passenger steamers on the Firth of Clyde?

Mr. BURNS

I have asked the railway companies concerned for their observations in this matter, and will communicate with my hon. Friend on receipt of their replies.

22. Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTT

asked whether the Regulations with regard to the display of lights by vessels at anchor are at present being enforced in the Firth of Clyde and adjacent lochs; whether repeated complaints from owners and masters of passenger steamers have been made to the Board of Trade; and, in view of the approaching Glasgow holidays, when many thousands of passengers will be conveyed on passenger steamers in the Firth, will he say what action the Board of Trade has taken to ensure the safety of passenger vessels by enforcing the Regulations?

Mr. BURNS

I presume my hon. Friend's question refers to the display of lights by small pleasure yachts which lie in secluded parts of the Firth of Clyde and adjacent lochs out of the routes ordinarily taken by passenger steamers. The application to all these yachts of the requirement to display anchor lights would, I understand, be a serious matter to their owners and might involve the pleasure boats being driven out of existence, which I am sure my hon. Friend would not desire. Any action which might be taken could not, of course, be confined to the Clyde, and I am ascertaining whether the same question arises in other parts of the United Kingdom with the view of deciding whether anything should be done in the matter generally.

Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTT

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that two years ago one of the Clyde Steam Packet vessels ran down a small yacht which was anchored not in a secure part and which displayed no lights in contravention of these Orders?

Mr. BURNS

I believe that occasionally accidents have occurred, but it is a very difficult matter to apply to every yacht and every pleasure boat, wherever situated, the rigid technical rule which my hon. Friend wants me to apply to the yachts in this particular area. I am investigating the whole matter, and if it is possible I may have different rules for different areas.