§ MR. FIELDTo ask the President of the Board of Trade whether the Government will consider the advisability of appointing a Commission to inquire into and report upon the nationalisation of the railways in Great Britain and Ireland, and to inquire into and report upon the system of preferential through rates for imported goods and produce.
1091 (Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) As I informed the hon. Members for the Stowmarket Division and Stockport on the 4th instant, an informal Railway Conference is now considering a number of questions affecting railways, including amalgamations and working agreements, and preferential rates on imports. Until some progress has been made with the proceedings I am unable to say whether it will be necessary to institute any other machinery for inquiry such as is suggested by the hon. Member. As regards Ireland a Vice-Regal Commission is at present engaged in a comprehensive inquiry relating to railways.