§ MR. THORNTON (Clapham)To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the aggregate of the sums advanced by the Treasury up to the present time under Section 4 of the Light Railways Act, 1896, and of special advances under Section 5 of that Act; whether there are any outstanding payments still to be made under either section: and whether it is the intention of the Government to institute any inquiry into the working of the Act by means of a departmental or other committee.
(Answered by Mr. McKenna.) Under Section 4 of the Light Railways Act, 1896, £13,500 has been advanced up to the present time, and farther loans amounting to £35,000 have been conditionally agreed to. Under Section 5, special advances have been conditionally agreed to amounting to £212,495, of which £139,128 has been actually advanced, leaving £73,367 outstanding. My right hon. friend the President of the Board of Trade informs me that he sees no reason for the appointment of a Committee as suggested.