§ Mr. CLYNES (for Mr. William Thorne)asked the right hon. Gentleman if he can give any information as to the delay in dealing with the petition presented to the Board in 1908, requesting the Board of Trade to use the powers conferred upon them by the Cheap Trains Act, 1883, to cause the Great Eastern Railway to run a service of workmen's trains on the Loughton and Romford branches of this railway?
Mr. BUXTONIn pursuance of Section 3 of the Cheap Trains Act, 1883, this matter has been referred to the Railway and Canal Commission, at the request of the Great Eastern Railway Company. There have already been some preliminary proceedings before the Commission, but a final decision has not yet been given.
§ Mr. CLYNESalso asked the right hon. Gentleman, having in view the need for an early amendment of the Cheap Trains Act, and the promises made by his last two predecessors that the Government would be asked to deal with this matter, if he can inform the House when he will be able to promote a Bill for this purpose?
Mr. BUXTONI fear that I am not at present able to say when it will be possible to introduce legislation on this matter.