MR. T. H. BOLTONI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether, having regard to the Report of Major General Hutchinson, R.E., in the case of the accident to a passenger train at Portland Road Bridge, Norwood, on the London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway, and the correspondence between the Board of Trade and that company on the subject, he will consider the desirability of an amendment of the law with a view to imposing on Railway Companies a greater sense of responsibility in discharging their duties to the travelling public?
§ *SIR M. HICKS BEACHThe hon. Member asks me whether I would—
Consider the desirability of an amendment of the law with a view to imposing upon Railway Companies a greater sense of responsibility in discharging their duties to the travelling public.The responsibility of the companies is complete, but the sense of that responsibility might perhaps be quickened by the imposition of considerable damages for accidents duo to their neglect, but I do not see how an alteration of the law would have that effect.