§ Mr. GEORGE THORNEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the admission by the London and North-Western Railway Company that a subsidence has taken place on their line near Oldbury owing to mining operations, and that in consequence trains have to continuously travel at a slow speed over the site of the workings, he will cause an inspection to be made on behalf of the Board of Trade in order that the travelling public may have the satisfaction of an independent report on a matter affecting their safety?
Mr. TENNANTThe Board of Trade have no power to order such an inspection to be made, and I should deprecate taking any step which might seem in any way to relieve the railway company of the responsibility which rests on them to ensure the safe working of the line. I have no reason to doubt that the company are doing all that is necessary in the matter.