§ 23. Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that, some three months ago, an Admiralty vessel collided with the pontoon at North Corner, Devonport, putting the pontoon out of service; that the Admiralty have admitted liability, but so far nothing has been done to repair the damage; that the traffic is stopped at this point, causing great inconvenience to the public generally and disastrous consequence to the small shop keepers in Cornwall Street, where business is in a state of stagnation; and that many of these shopkeepers are now subsisting on their small savings and will 1312 have to close down unless something is speedily done; and will he say what the Admiralty propose to do in the matter of repair so as to restore the traffic and reopen trade?
§ Mr. AMERYIt is the fact that a naval vessel collided with this pontoon a little over two months ago, though the Admiralty has not admitted liability. The responsibility for the resumption of traffic does not rest with the Admiralty, though the local naval authorities have endeavoured by the loan of a lighter to facilitate such resumption. The matter is under discussion between dockyard officers and the officers of the Plymouth corporation.