§ MR. LOUGH (Islington, W.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received satisfactory replies from the railway companies in 1244 response to the appeal that has been made for an improved service of workmen's trains within the London area; and whether, if the companies do not meet the demand in a liberal spirit, ha would be prepared to order local inquiries to be held in the districts affected, in order to give the inhabitants an opportunity of substantiating to his satisfaction their demand for the improved services.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADEThe Board of Trade have not yet received replies from all the railway companies. In the event of any of the answers being unsatisfactory I shall, of course, be prepared to adopt the procedure laid down by the Cheap Trains Act with regard to the particular company, and to order an inquiry to give the inhabitants of a district full opportunity of showing the necessity for a specific train or trains.