§ MR. BIGGARasked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether he is aware the District and Metropolitan Railways do not now work on the block system, and that the trains are exceedingly unpunctual; if so, whether he will use his influence to remedy the above complaint?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKE, replying in the absence of the President of the Board of Trade, said, that the Metropolitan and District Railways had been provided with instruments for working their lines on the block system, and the Board of Trade had every reason to believe that these lines were now worked on that system. There had been no time to communicate with the Companies since the Question had been put down on the Paper. No complaints had been received as to their unpunctuality; but even if they had been received, the Board of Trade had no power to interfere with the actual working of the lines.
§ MR. FIRTHasked whether the right hon. Gentleman was aware that since the month of September these Railway Companies had sold to the public no time tables, so as to avoid liability?
§ [No reply.]
§ MR. BIGGARgave Notice that he would repeat his Question on Tuesday next.