§ MR. WOODS (Essex, Walthamstow)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that, by the London, Walthamstow, and Epping Forest Railway Act, 1894, a company was incorporated to make a railway from London through Leyton and Walthamstow to increase the railway accommodation for those populous districts, and that Acts have since been passed from time to time extending the time allowed for the completion of the railway, in view of the promoters' stated intention to abandon the undertaking unless such Acts were passed, three Bills having been introduced into this House in five years for the abandonment of the undertaking and subsequently withdrawn; and whether, as a Bill, which was read the first time in this House on 9th February last, is now before the House again seeking a further extension of time, and upon which no further steps 15 have been taken by the company, the Board of Trade will take any steps to compel the company either to perform its statutory duty or to forthwith abandon the undertaking.
§ THE PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Ritchie,) CroydonYes, Sir. I have received from the agents for the promoters of the undertaking a statement of reasons for the delay referred to, which I shall be happy to show the hon. Member, if he so desires. In answer to the last part of the question I have to point out that on the 25th of May the House agreed to a resolution reported from the Standing Orders Committee that leave should be given for the introduction of a Bill to abandon the undertaking. I am informed that the Abandonment Bill will accordingly be introduced forthwith.