§ Mr. MILLSasked the President of the Board of Trade the amount of the sums disbursed under Section 544, Sub-section (3), of the Merchant Shipping Act since 1894, and the present balance to the credit of the Mercantile Marine Fund?
Mr. BUXTONThe approximate expenditure under Section 544 (3) of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, has been as follows: From 1st January, 1894, to 31st March, 1899, £200; from 1st April, 1899, to present date, £555. The Mercantile Marine Fund was, however, abolished by the Merchant Shipping (Mercantile Marine Fund) Act, 1898 (61 and 62 Viet, ch. 44), which came into force on 1st April, 1899, when the balance was transferred to the General Lighthouse Fund. Since that date the payments of the nature referred to have been made out of the Mercantile Marine Services Vote, Class II., Vote 9.