§ MR. CHANNING (Northamptonshire, E.)To ask the President of the Board of Trade why the Return of hours in excess of twelve worked by railway servants in the month of October, 1903, is taking so much longer a time to produce than previous similar Returns; and whether the Board will direct the railway companies who have not yet completed and sent in their Returns to do so without further delay.
(Answered by Mr. Gerald Balfour.) I have no reason to suppose that the Return for October, which was called for two months ago, will take a longer time in production than previous Returns. The time occupied by the last two Returns of this nature was about six months. The attention of those companies whose returns are outstanding is being called to the matter.