§ MR. EMERSON BAINBRIDGE (Lincoln, Gainsborough)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if he could state to the House how many Provisional Orders for Light Railways have been granted by the Light Railway Commissioners since the passing of the Act; how many have been confirmed by the Board of Trade; and what amount of the grant of money provided by the Act has been advanced up to the present time.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. RITCHIE,) CroydonUp to the present time 16 Orders have been made by the Light Railway Commissioners, and submitted to the Board of Trade for confirmation. Of these, four have been confirmed by the Board of Trade after modification, and five others will shortly be ready for confirmation. One Order has been remitted to the Light Railway Commissioners for further consideration, and in the case of the remaining six Orders the time allowed for lodging objections has not yet expired. None of the undertakings authorised made any claims for financial assistance either from the Treasury or Local Authorities. Grants, however, have been provisionally sanctioned by the Treasury in cases which are still under the consideration of the Light Railway Commissioners. I presented a Report of proceedings under the Light Railway Act on the 11th instant, and hoped it would have been circulated before this.