§ MR. WEIRTo ask the Secretary of State for India whether he is yet in a position to say whether arrangements have been made for the more general adoption of the automatic brake and system of intercommunication with the guard on passenger trains of the Indian Government Railways.
(Answered by Secretary Lord George Hamilton.) As regards the adoption of automatic brakes, the report on the progress in the introduction of, and results of working automatic vacuum brakes in India during the six months ended the 30th June, 1902, has been received. Compared with the previous half-year there was no increase of braked vehicles, but a considerable improvement in the results of working them. The Government of India were asked in January last to furnish any information they may be able to supply as to the adoption of a system of intercommunication between passengers and guards on Indian railways, but no reply has yet been received.