§ MR. HAROLD COX (Preston)To ask the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to the allegation that the shortage of rolling stock on the Indian railways is due to the failure of the Government of India to sanction, at a sufficiently early date, proposals made by the railway companies and by the railway administration that more capital should be expended on rolling stock; whether there is any ground for this allegation; and in any ease, whether he will consider the desirability of completely separating the finances of Indian railways from the general finances of the Government of India, either by creating a railway trust or by extending the system of leased lines while enlarging the financial independence of the lessee companies.
§ (Answered by Mr. Secretary Morley.) As I think my hon. friend is aware, I have recently appointed a Committee to report on the whole question under which funds are supplied to Indian railways. The allegation referred to by my hon. friend, as well as the suggestion contained in the last portion of his Question, will no doubt be examined by this Committee.