§ 45. Sir J. D. REESasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the difficulty experienced in proceeding with the Railways Bill in its present form, he will consider the propriety of introducing a short Bill in order to redeem the pledge given in August, 1911, without the addition of other and not necessarily connected subjects?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Asquith)In view of (he pressure on the time of the House, it seems clear that adequate time could not be found for the passing of the Railways Bill this Session. We should hope to reintroduce the Bill next Session in an amended form. In order, therefore, to carry out the undertaking given to the railway companies by the Government at the time of the railway strike and the appointment of the Royal Commission, we hope to introduce and pass this Session a one-Clause Bill. For this purpose Clause 2 of the present Bill has been redrafted in such a way as to meet criticisms which have been directed against it from various quarters while still giving full effect to the Government's undertaking.
Captain CRAIGIs the man yet born who could draft a Bill to redeem the broken promises of this discredited Government?
§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that railway stock has increased in value since the labour dispute, and that, therefore, the necessity for the Bill no longer exists?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI think the undertaking of the Government remains.