HC Deb 26 November 1908 vol 197 cc673-5
MR WARDLE (Stockport)

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if he has had a copy of the agreement between the Great Northern and Great Central Railway Companies; if so, will he lay the same upon the Table of the House; and, if he has not had a copy of such agreement, will he endeavour to obtain the same and lay it upon the Table of the House.

I beg also to ask the President of the Board of Trade if he has had a copy of the agreement between the North British and the Caledonian Railway Companies; and, if so, will he lay the same upon the Table of the House; and, if he has not had a copy of such agreement, will he endeavour to obtain the same and lay it upon the Table of the House.

I beg further to ask the President of the Board of Trade if he has had a copy of the agreement between the London and North Western and Midland Railway Companies; if so, will he lay the same upon the Table of the House; and, if he has not had a copy of such agreement, will he endeavour to obtain the same and lay it upon the Table of the House.

SIR H. KEARLEY

I understand that no formal agreement has been entered into by the Great Northern and Great Central Companies alone, but as I informed the hon. Member on the 17th inst., an agreement between these two companies and the Great Eastern Railway Company is to be submitted to Parliament in the form of a Bill. As regards the agreements between the other railway companies referred to I should explain that the companies concerned are not under any obligation to deposit copies of such agreements at the Board of Trade. I may take this opportunity of adding that the whole subject of railway agreements of the class to which these Questions relate and of their relation to the general interests of the public is receiving the most careful examination at the Board of Trade and that my right hon. friend proposes to make a statement with regard thereto early in next session.

MR. WARDLE

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that, although a Bill is to be brought in next session, the Great Northern and Great Central are working in agreement at the present moment?

SIR H. KEARLEY

The whole thing is receiving the most careful attention at the hands of my right hon. friend, and I cannot say more at the moment than that he will make a statement as to the whole of these agreements at the beginning of next session.

MR. KEIR HARDIE (Merthyr Tydvil)

Meanwhile will the Board of Trade refuse to sanction any agreement?

SIR H. KEARLEY

The Board of Trade have no power to forbid agreements which do not come under the provisions of the Railway Clauses Act, 1863.

* MR. REES

inquired whether, when this matter was under consideration, the interests of stockholders also would be taken into account.

SIR H. KEARLEY

said that was not a question which arose out of his reply, but no doubt all the interests concerned would be considered.

MR. WARDLE

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that a Select Committee sat on this subject in 1872 and distinctly stated that these agreements were illegal?

SIR H. KEARLEY

I have no doubt that is so.