§ MR. CHANNING (Northampton, E.)asked the President of the Board of Trade when he proposes to bring in a Bill to deal with the several points of safety arrangements on Railways, and Returns of overtime work, on which he 949 undertook on the 8th of May last to legislate?
§ * THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH,) Bristol, W.In the debate on the date referred to by the hon. Member, I said that I would endeavour at the earliest opportunity I could find to ask Parliament to deal with questions of public safety in the working of Railways. But I was not able then to fix any time for doing so—other subjects must have precedence of this. On some points, especially in the matter of couplings, further information is necessary before I could undertake to lay a Bill on the Table of the House. As regards overtime, the Returns called for are in an advanced state of preparation, and I hope will be shortly presented. Until they have been considered, I do not think it is desirable to decide what is to be done as to future Returns, which, it is to be observed, we can call for without further legislation.
§ MR. CHANNINGI beg to give notice that I will draw attention to this subject on the Vote for the Board of Trade.