§ MR. W. O. CLOUGH (Portsmouth)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade, whether, in the interests of the public and with a view to assist in the promotion of new railways, especially suburban lines, he would consider the advisability of proposing a material reduction in the amount of Parliamentary deposit on Railway Bills, especially as existing railway companies, if they paid a dividend at their last half-yearly meeting, are exempt from making any deposit when proposing any extension or a new line; and, whether he is aware that the promoters of an important suburban railway in 1894 were compelled, in accordance with Standing Orders, to deposit the large sum of about £100,000; and that the directors of the said railway were, in the Session of 1895, placed in the position of having two Bills before the House at the same time, one for abandonment, in order to satisfy the requirements of the bankers who advanced the money for the deposit, the other for additional powers?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. C. T. RITCHIE,) CroydonThe matter referred to in the hon. Member's Question, could only be dealt with by legislation, which should only be introduced after most careful inquiry. I cannot hold out any hopes that such legislation will be introduced. It is scarcely possible for me to deal within the limits of an answer to a Question with the last paragraph.