§ 3. Sir R. THOMASasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the committee appointed to inquire into the present system of lighthouse administration, under which shipowners have to bear the whole cost of the service, has yet reported; and, if not, when it may be expected to do so?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI would refer the hon. Member to the reply which the Parliamentary Secretary gave him on the i3th March, that certain questions connected with the administration of the lighthouse service were being discussed with representatives or shipowners. These discussions are still proceeding. No committee of inquiry has been appointed.
§ Sir R. THOMASWhen are these discussions likely to terminate, and when may we expect the result, to be made known?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI cannot say with certainty. I know that the representatives of the shipowners and of Trinity House have been dealing with the subject very fully, and I expect that we shall have a report from them in due course.
§ Mr. KELLYWhen the right hon. Gentleman receives that report, and is giving it consideration, will he have regard to the position of the man engaged in the lighthouse service?
Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LESTERI think the hon. Member knows that it does not rest with the Board of Trade to deal with the lighthouse services. These services have been vested by Parliament in Trinity louse and the Northern Lights Commissioners.
§ Mr. KELLYBut seeing that the financial control is vested in the Board of Trade, will the right hon. Gentleman see to it that these bodies are riot cribbed or confined in their expenditure, in order that wages may be cut down?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI must decline to accept responsibility for a service for which, by law, I am not responsible. The administration of the lighthouse services is, as I have said, vested by Parliament in the lighthouse authorities I have named.