§ MR. DAVID THOMAS (Merthyr, Tydvil)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, whether he has received any representations from Chambers of Commerce or other public bodies in favour of simplifying and rendering less costly the present procedure on Private Bills; and, whether he will consider the advisability of establishing a permanent paid authority (with power to visit localities concerned) to deal with railway and other Bills?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYI do not happen to have received any such representation, but I am well aware that the subject to which the hon. Member refers excites considerable attention. I have myself endeavoured to pass legislation on the subject, so far without success, but I trust it may be one of the matters which the Government, if they have sufficient time, may be able to deal with.