§ 5. Mr. ALBERYasked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the fact that a further foreign vessel, this time of over 1,000 tons measurement, has been in collision with one of the London bridges, if he will impress upon the Port of London Authority the urgent need for expediting their inquiry and of speedily framing regulations for the safer navigation of the Thames in the vicinity of the London bridges; and if he will emphasise the desirability of consultation with the river pilots' and watermen's associations on this matter?
§ Sir B. CHADWICKI am informed that the collision referred to was due to the failure of the vessel's engines when leaving a wharf near London Bridge on a flood tide, with the result that the vessel was carried by the current against one of the piers on the lower side of London Bridge, within the London Pilotage District. The vessel being subject to compulsory pilotage, was in charge of a pilot licensed by the London Trinity House at the time of the collision. As regards the general question of navigation in the Thames, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on the 29th November. I will send a copy of his question and of this reply to the Port of London Authority.