§ Mr. WHITEHEADasked the President of the Board of Trade whether full opportunity to be heard will be afforded to all persons and interests adversely affected by the proposed bye-laws now put forward by the War Office with regard to shooting in the Thames estuary from the Grain battery; whether he will defer the consideration of those bye-laws until a public inquiry into the whole matter has been held by the Board of Trade; and, if so, when and where such inquiry will be held?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLAmple notice of any application by the War Office for the consent of the Board of Trade to bye-laws dealing with artillery firing in the Thames estuary will be given by advertisements in the local Press, and by the exhibition of notices in the neighbourhood. Any objections will be carefully considered by the Board, but until the proposed bye-laws have been published and objections received, I shall not be in a position to say whether a public inquiry will be necessary or when and where it will take place.