§ 36. Major COLFOXasked the President of the Board of Trade what arrangements exist for supervising the efficiency of the Imperial lighthouses in the Bahama Islands; and what is the annual cost to the Exchequer?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThese lighthouses, which are under the management of the Board of Trade, are periodically visited and inspected by an officer appointed by the Department and stationed at Nassau. The charges of the service are borne by the General Lighthouse Fund, not by the Exchequer, and the cost of maintenance averaged approximately £26,600 for the three years ended on 31st March, 1931. In addition, capital expenditure was incurred on renovations of lighthouses during the same years averaging approximately £24,000.
§ Major COLFOXCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether a special ship is kept for this purpose?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI could not answer that question without notice.