asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has received any information with regard to the four members of the crew who lost their lives through an explosion on the steamer named the "Black Sea"; how many other members of the crew were injured; and whether this explosion was caused through a faulty boiler?

The information received from the owners and from the Consul-General at New York is to the effect that a fire and an explosion, or series of explosions, occurred on the motor ship "Black Sea" at Bayonne, New York, on 23rd February, when the loading of the cargo of Naphtha and kerosene was almost complete. The explosions were in way of the midship storeroom on the port side, and there were apparently no explosions in the cargo tanks. The cause is not yet ascertained, but it cannot have been a faulty boiler, as there are no main boilers and neither of the donkey boilers was in use. There were no galley fires lighted; steam for pumping the cargo and working the ship's dynamo was supplied from shore; and no smoking or naked lights were allowed on board. Four members of the ship's complement, namely, chief engineer, chief steward, assistant steward and mess room steward, lost their lives, and the fourth engineer was injured.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the recent inquest in connection with a fatal railway level-crossing accident, at which everyone denied any responsibility for the safety of those using the crossing, he will consider the desirability of suggesting to the various railway companies the need for investigating the position of all level crossings, with the object of ensuring proper safeguards both for the public who use them and for those who travel by train?

The responsibility of a railway company in connection with the safety arrangements at a level crossing depends upon the nature of the crossing. At an ordinary public road crossing the company are required, with a view to securing the safety of the public, to provide a crossing keeper to attend to the gates. At an occupation crossing, however, such as that to which I think my hon. Friend refers in his question, the company are under no such obligation, and in that case the persons entitled to use the crossing are, in the absence of negligence on the part of the railway company, responsible for their own safety. My information is that railway companies already take steps when necessary to remind the occupiers of level crossings of their responsibilities, and I understand that this was done in the particular case in question. I will, however, bring my hon. Friend's suggestion to the notice of the railway companies.

asked the Home Secretary if his attention had been drawn to the fact that in several of the provincial centres kiosks are being arranged for police officers to enable them to communicate with their headquarters; and if he has considered the introduction of these kiosks in the Metropolitan police area?

Telephone boxes are provided for the use of the police at suitable points in the Metropolitan Police District, and the question of extending these facilities where necessary is kept in view.