§ MR. ANGUS SUTHERLANDI beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Highland Railway Company have offered to construct, work, and maintain a line of railway from Culrain to Lochinver, on the west coast of Sutherland, at a cost of 906 £250,000, on condition that the Treasury will guarantee a dividend of three per cent. for thirty years; whether the Duke of Sutherland has offered to give the necessary land as his share of the stock of the proposed railway; whether the Government intend to take advantage of this offer, and give the required guarantee; and whether, in the case of the Mallaig Railway, the Government had such, or any, facilities of a local character offered them?
§ MR. GOSCHENOffers, which are in substance correctly described in the first two paragraphs of the hon. Member's question, have been made to the Government. The proposals in connection with this and other lines are under consideration. In the case of the Mallaig line, the negotiations for which are nearly completed, certain local facilities are to be given, and the local guarantees required by the Government are forthcoming.
§ MR. SUTHERLANDCan the right, hon. Gentleman say what these local guarantees are?
§ MR. GOSCHENI could not describe them off-hand, but the position is such that no risk whatever is involved to the Government. If the hon. Member wishes for detailed information, perhaps he will repeat his question to-morrow.