§ 1. Captain Viscount CURZONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the question of the provision of a safety device for ships' valuables has received the consideration of his Department; whether he is aware that the Dutch Royal Mail already insist upon such a 1858 provision, and that both America and France are prepared to give consideration to this provision; and whether the Board of Trade will be prepared to give consideration to the provision of such a device, provided that it does not entail expense upon British shipowners not similarly borne by foreign nationals?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Webb)The provision of a safety device for ships' valuables is a matter in which the Board of Trade have no statutory powers, and they have taken no action with regard to it. If the Noble Lord will be good enough to send me the information to which he refers, and will explain why it is, in his opinion, desirable for the Government to intervene, I will go into the matter.