§ MR. CHANNINGI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether an Order under "The Railway Regulation Act, 1889," has been made by the Board on the Great North of Ireland Railway Company to provide their passenger trains with continuous brakes, complying with the conditions laid down by the Board, and within what period; and whether the Board have received from the company satisfactory assurances that such Order will be complied with within the period named?
§ SIR M. HICKS BEACHThe company in question has assured the Board of Trade that they will provide for and use on all their trains carrying passengers continuous brakes complying with the requirements laid down, and an Order to this effect will shortly be made. It has been delayed in this case, in common with others, for the reason explained in my reply to the hon. Member's other question to-day.
§ MR. CHANNINGI also beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade what Orders have been issued to the Railway Companies, under the provisions of "The Railway Regulation Act, 1889," in respect of the provision on all passenger trains of brakes complying with the conditions laid down by the Board; what periods of time have been fixed for compliance with such Orders; what extensions of such periods of time have been granted, and to what Railway Companies; what Orders have been made by the Board as to Returns of overtime work under Clause 4 of the Act, and how frequently such Returns will be made; and whether, in case such Orders and extensions of periods are numerous, he will have a Return laid before the House stating particulars?
§ SIR M. HICKS BEACHSeveral Orders have been issued, and I shall be glad to show the hon. Member a list; but as regards many of the principal Railway Companies, the matter has been postponed in consequence of the difficulty as regards mixed trains. The difficulty appeared to me to be so important that I directed the Railway Inspectors to confer with a Committee of the General Managers as to the limitations which might reasonably be authorised. The Report of that Conference is now before me, and the necessary Orders will be issued without delay. It must not, however, be supposed that the Act has been inoperative because the Orders, generally speaking, have not yet been issued. Communications have passed between the Board of Trade and the Companies, and the latter are, as a rule, making preparations for an early compliance with the Act. I propose early next Session to lay on the Table a Return on the subject. As regards overtime, a Return has been presented and will shortly be circulated with reference to the months of September, 1889, and March, 1890. The result of the selection of these months will be considered before further Returns are called for.