§ MR. T. R. BUCHANAN (Aberdeenshire, E.)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he will lay upon the Table of the House the correspondence that passed between him and the Promoters with regard to the proposed guarantee to the West Highland Railway. And what was the date of the communication that he made to Mr. Cameron of Lochiel, in which it is alleged that he promised to press forward this Bill during the present Session.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERCorrespondence on this subject was laid on the Table in May last. There has been none since the present Government took office. The two last Governments promised a guarantee to the promoters of this railway; and when the late Government resigned a notice stood on the Order-book of a Resolution to carry it into effect. Soon after I accepted office, I was asked by Mr. Cameron of Lochiel, who, I understand, is largely interested in the district, whether I would fulfil the promise made by my predecessor, and introduce a Bill on the subject in this Session. I replied that I felt myself bound by the promise of the late Government, and would do my best to introduce a Bill this Session, but that the arrangement of business rested not with me, but with the Leader of the House.
§ MR. BUCHANANIs it a fact that the right hon. Gentleman stated that he would endeavour to push forward this Motion during the present Session?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERCertainly.
§ MR. BUCHANANIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the first public announcement of the intention of the Government to press forward this guarantee for the West Ireland Railway was made at a political meeting held in the interests of the hon. Member for Inverness-shire the day before the polling? [Cheers.]
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERsaid he did not know what use might have been made of his letter, but it was written long before the polling.
§ MR. BUCHANANThe right hon. Gentleman has not given me the date.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERIt was soon after I took office.
§ MR. J. H. DALZIEL (Kirkcaldy Burghs)asked whether the Bill was not abandoned in the last Parliament because regarded as contentious, and yet the present Government intended to introduce it?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERsaid he hoped, with the sanction of the Leader of the House, to introduce the Bill, and, if it proved to be contentious, it would fall under the rule already stated to the House.