§ MR. T. DAVIES (Fulham)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been drawn to the number of accidents which have occurred on the District Railway since its electrification; and whether, in view of the number of hours which the men have to work, and the want of a second man in the motorman's cab, he will take steps to insure the safety of the public who travel on that railway.
§ Mr. KEARLEYI am aware that a certain number of accidents have occurred to trains on the Metropolitan District
† MR. HOUSTON: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if his Department has received a Report from the English Consul at Rome giving information as to inquiries which the Italian Government were making in various countries for a number of locomotives, the conditions for a number of locomotives, the conditions under which the various manufacturers were tendering, and the assisatance which the German Government was giving to German makers to enable them to compete with English makers, and if he will state what that assistance is.85 Railway since its equipment for electrical working. The responsibility for the safe working of the line rests with the railway company, and I am communicating with them as to the frequency of these breakdowns. No complaint has been received by the Board of Trade from any of the men employed on the railway as to the hours of work. I am advised that there is no reason to suppose that the employment of one man only in the motor cab of a train is a source of danger, or that any accident which has happened would have been avoided by the presence of a second man.
§ MR. WARDLE (Stockport)Is the hon. Gentleman aware that these men cannot make complaints with regard to hours because they have split turns?
§ MR. KEARLEYThe men have only to make their complaint to the Board of Trade and an investigation will follow. The men have not complained, and the Board are not in a position therefore to make an inquiry.