§ Mr. HUDSONasked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to a considerable number of failures in the automatic signal working on the Metropolitan Railway during the months of July and August of this year whether any inquiry has been held; and, if so, in how many cases?
Mr. TENNANTAn accident due to a failure in the automatic signalling on this railway occurred on 5th August, and an inquiry was held by Colonel Druitt. la his Report, which has been published, the failure was attributed to the defective design of a valve, and it was stated that at all the signals fitted with the automatic-apparatus of the system that failed valves of an improved design were to be fitted, and meantime the working of the signals was to be watched by flagmen. The company have, however, now determined to withdraw the system mentioned at all sig- 1905W nals, except a few which are under a signalman's observation, and to adopt an electrical mechanical system instead. Certain other failures were reported to the Board of Trade of which the company's explanations have been obtained, but as no accident resulted in any of these cases no official inquiry has been held.
§ Mr. GOULDINGasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that since the new tariff law came into force in the United States the duty on spirits imported from the United Kingdom is $0.85 more than if imported from France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Switzerland, as against $0.50 under the old tariff; whether he has received representations from British distillers to the effect that there is great danger that this increased differentiation against British spirits, if maintained until the various treaties with the United States lapse, may cause a permanent diversion of trade to other countries; and whether, under these circumstances, the Government will take any action to influence the United States Government to place British spirits on a footing of equality with spirits imported from other countries, or to suspend the levying of the increased duty on British spirits until the treaties with other countries lapse.
§ Sir E. GREYThe reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second and third parts of the question, representations have been received from certain distillers, but I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on the 2nd instant, from which he will see that the differentiation which exists will cease as regards France in November, Germany in February, Italy, Spain and Portugal in August next. The question of what further action could be taken in the matter is still under consideration.