§ MR. HUGH HOARE (Cambridge, Chesterton)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether, with reference to the communication from Littleport under date of 27th March, coming from farmers occupying 78,000 acres and served by the Great Eastern Railway, any further steps can be taken by the Board of Trade to ensure a proper supply of trucks to customers of the Railway Company, as is the practice of other railways, and so to obviate the serious loss and delay thus caused to the farmers and traders of the neighbourhood?
§ MR. BRYCEThe Board of Trade have no statutory power to order a Railway Company to supply trucks for their customers. I have, however, been in friendly communication with the Great Eastern Railway Company on the subject, and I understand that the Directors have ordered a large number of additional trucks to be supplied annually.
§ MR. A. C. MORTON (Peterborough)If the right hon. Gentleman has no statutory power will he not use his influence to induce the Company to sur- 355 mount difficulties which greatly interfere with traders and with the agricultural interest?