MR. MCLEODI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, in view of his statement to the House that The proposed extension of the North British Railway to Mallaig, under a Government subsidy, is again under negotiation with the Treasury, he would be prepared to consider the claims to a subsidy of other proposed railway routes to the West Coast of Scotland, which, on expert evidence, are believed to be superior to the proposed route to Mallaig; or, alternatively, whether he would consider the advisability of devoting the large sum proposed to be expended on one district to constructing means of communication either by new roads or light railways in several districts in the Highlands?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERIt must be remembered that this Bill was introduced by the 1496 Government in pursuance of an agreement. If it should be proceeded with, no other Scheme can be considered as alternative to it. I am not at present prepared to make any promise on the general subject, in the event of its not being proceeded with.