§ SIR BERNHARD SAMUELSON (Oxfordshire, Banbury)asked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether the Secretary of State and the Government of India intend to adopt some policy, in regard to the construction of Railways in India, differing from that 569 now pursued, which is, that they are constructed mainly by the Government of India, and by Companies under a Government guarantee; whether it is intended to call for offers to construct additional Railways on the latter footing at an early date; and, if so, between what points; and, what lines, and what mileage of railways, will be opened for traffic in the present year, and in each of the two succeeding years?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JOHN GORST) (Chatham)The Secretary of State has no intention of departing from the policy of constructing railways in India by the Government itself, or by Companies under a guarantee. Any proposal to dispense with a guarantee would, no doubt, be received favourably. It is not intended at present to call for offers to construct additional railways under a Government guarantee. I gave yesterday, in answer to a Question, the list of railways which will be opened in the present year. It is impossible to furnish a reliable estimate for the two succeeding years yet.