Mr. EDMUND HARVEYasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the practice of many German and Continental railway authorities of providing emergency axes in the corridors of passenger trains for use in case of accident; and whether, in view of the loss of life in the fire which followed the collision near Hawes Junction in December, 1910, which might have been partially avoided had there been axes available to rescue passengers from the debris, he will take steps to secure that similar provision is made by the British railway companies?
Mr. BUXTONI am at present in communication with the railway companies as to the carriage of salvage tools for use in emergency on passenger trains.