§ Sir A. SINCLAIRasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the strong feeling which exists 295W among seafarers that the danger to navigation oft the North Coast of Scotland caused by the absence of a light on Strathy Point should be promptly removed by the erection of a lighthouse; whether the Lighthouse Commissioners have been consulted as to the necessity of the erection of a lighthouse on Strathy Point, and, if so, what opinion they have expressed; and whether he proposes to sanction the erection of this lighthouse?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI am not aware of any strong feeling on the part of seafarers such as is referred to by the hon. and gallant Member. A proposal to erect a lighthouse on Strathy Point has been put forward by the Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses on several occasions, but it has not received the statutory approval of the Trinity House or the financial sanction of the Board of Trade. As recently as February last the scheme was discussed with the committee of shipowners and other interests, who advise the Board of Trade in regard to new lighthouse works; that committee were definitely of opinion that a lighthouse in this position was not necessary in the interests of general navigation, and the Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses were ready to give up their proposal for the moment. Further, the proposal has not been included in the Commissioner's programme for next financial year. On my present information, I am not convinced that there is a sufficient need for a lighthouse at this point to warrant the expenditure involved in its erection.