Sir G. DOYLEasked the President of the Board of Trade why the request of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution for a 2365W Board of Trade inquiry into the wreck of the ketch "Lord Hamilton," with loss of life, on the Goodwin Sands on 12th February has been refused; what measures are proposed to ensure an efficient look-out from the light ships stationed around the Goodwins; and whether on the day of the wreck the Ramsgate lifeboat was delayed because the Board of Trade harbour tug had not steam up?
Mr. ALEXANDERThe only question in this case was whether the coxswain and crew of the lifeboat should have been able in the dusk to see the men in the rigging who were wrapped up in the sail. It was clear from the position in which the anchor and cable of the lifeboat were afterwards found that the lifeboat had been at the wreck itself. After consulting their advisers, the Board of Trade came to the conclusion that there was no evidence of want of diligence or of seaman-like care on the part of the coxswain and crew of the lifeboat, and consequently no reason for incurring the expense of a formal investigation. There is no reason to question the efficiency of the look-out
Year. Empire trade with Foreign Countries. Inter-Imperial trade. Imports. Exports. United Kingdom Imports. United Kingdom Exports. Trade between British Countries Overseas.* Millions of £'s. 1920 … … 1,988 1,700 601 565 238 1921 … … 1,156 899 380 322 155 1922 … … 1,044† 956† 323 308 117† * As the imports into one Dominion or Colony appear in the trade returns as exports from another such country, imports only are shown in this column. † The totals for 1922 are exclusive of the trade of certain Baitish countries for which the trade returns are not yet available. In the year 1921 the trade of those countries with foreign countries amounted in the case of imports to about £6,300,000, and in the case of exports to about £5,400,000. The trade of those countries with other British countries overseas amounted, in 1921, to about £8,400,000. The following figures show the values of the foreign trade of the United States of America for the same years:—
All of the figures given above are inclusive of the value of imports and ex-2366W
Imports. Exports. Million £ Million £ 1920 … … 1,578 2,364 1921 … … 848 1,185 1922 … … 781 888 kept on the light ships. The Ramsgate harbour tug is not under the Board of Trade, and I would refer to the answer in regard to it which was given by the Minister of Transport to the hon. Member for the Isle of Thanet (Mr. Harmsworth) on 4th March.