§ 29. Mr. CHARLETONasked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to the rapidly increasing number of fatalities at the railway level crossings, and to the opinion contained in his Inspector's Report into the collision which happened at Naworth, London and North Eastern Railway, on the 30th August, 1926, respecting the general adoption of interlocking of signals with crossing gates; and whether, in the event of the opinion not being given effect to, the other suggestion contained in the same Report may be given effect to, and that a warning gong be affixed to crossing gates, which gong only operates when danger is present, which device can be immediately installed at little cost, and which provides practically all the elements of safety incorporated by the interlocking of signals with crossing gates?
§ Colonel ASHLEYThe number of persons killed in accidents at public and private railway level crossings in Great Britain was 55 in 1925 and 59 in 1926. These figures show a, slight diminution when compared with the corresponding average figure of 67 for the five pre-War years ended in 1914, but the figures have varied considerably. As regards the particular accident mentioned, the railway company have informed me that they propose to adopt both the recommendation as to interlocking and the suggestion as to the provision of a warning bell, to which the hon. Member refers.