§ VISCOUNT SIDMOUTHMy Lords, seeing the noble Earl opposite in his place, I beg to ask him a Question of 580 which I have given him private Notice. It is, Whether the Government intend to take any steps to ensure that an inquiry will be made into the Clyde catastrophe? From all the information that has been published, it is impossible to come to any other conclusion than that there must have been gross mismanagement; and I think the Government should take immediate steps to see that a searching investigation into the circumstances should be made.
§ EARL GRANVILLEMy Lords, on receiving the Notice of the noble Viscount I communicated with the President of the Board of Trade, but I found it was not a case that will come under the Board of Trade. The matter is one that will have to be considered by the Procurator Fiscal in Scotland, and I have not had time to communicate with him since I received Notice of this Question.
§ VISCOUNT SIDMOUTHI understand an investigation is being made, and I should like to know if the Report will be laid on the Table before the House rises?
§ EARL GRANVILLEIf the noble Viscount will revert to the usual practice of giving Notice of his Question, I will be glad to do my best to answer him. It is very inconvenient to be called on to answer Questions of this kind without Notice.