HC Deb 25 July 1889 vol 338 cc1265-6
MR. CHANNING

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Trades Union Congress, and the congress annually held by the organised railway servants, have repeatedly passed resolutions in favour of the extension of the powers of the Board of Trade to enforce better safety arrangements, as proposed in the Bill now before the House, and taken every opportunity for many years past of urging the Board of Trade to obtain these powers; and whether, having regard to these expressions of opinion on the part of those who do the actual work on the railways, and to the repeated evidence in Board of Trade inquiries that the recommendations of the Board have been for years neglected by many Railway Companies, he will arrange to take the Regulation of Railways Bill at an early date as a first Order of the Day. In putting the question I should wish to ask also whether the right hon. Gentleman has received a memorial signed among others by the labour representatives in this House in support of the Bill?

MR. CHANNING

I should like to ask whether the Bill will be taken at such an hour that it cannot be defeated by individual obstructors?

* SIR M. HICKS BEACH

The arrangement of the business of the House rests with the First Lord of the Treasury, and not with me.

MR. FENWICK (Northumberland, Wansbeck)

Then may I ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, considering the great amount of interest which is taken in this Bill, he will fix that it shall be taken at a time when it cannot be obstructed by individual Members?

* THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. W. H. SMITH,) Strand, Westminster

I recognise the very great importance of the Bill, but the question is not one that I am able to answer offhand. I am afraid that, seeing how much the business of the House has been delayed recently, the measure must take its chance.

MR. CHILDERS (Edinburgh, S.)

I shall be glad if the President of the Board of Trade will say whether, if the Regulations of Railways Bill is read a second time, he proposes to refer it to the Standing Committee on Trade?

* SIR M. HICKS BEACH

No, Sir; I think not. The Bill is a very short one, and I do not think that the Standing Committee on Trade would be able to deal with it, seeing that it is proposed to refer the Light Railways (Ireland) Bill to it.