§ MR. J. CALDWELL (Lanark, Mid)On behalf of the hon. Member for Ross and Cromarty (Mr. J. G. WEIR) I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the fact that there are many points in the bye-laws of the London and South Western and other Railway Companies which are in contravention of Section 5 of the Regulation of Railways Act 1889, will he state whether the Board of Trade have yet communicated with the various railway companies on the subject, and whether any date has yet been fixed for issuing the revised bye-laws?
§ MR. RITCHIENo, Sir; as I explained to the hon. Member in reply to a previous question, there are many points in the bye-laws which require consideration, and the Board propose to deal with them as a whole. I can assure the hon. Member that the matter will not be lost sight of, but the Department must be allowed to select a favourable opportunity for opening negotiations with the companies.