80. Sir F. HALLasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the Committee appointed last Session to inquire into the question of inland transport recommended that the Treasury should grant facilities to the New Transport Company, Limited, to raise further capital in order that more demonstrations might be given by that company as to their clearing-house system; whether the recommendation of the Select Committee has been granted; and, if not, whether he will state on what grounds it was refused in view of the great necessity for improvement in the present transport system?
§ Mr. BALDWINThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The Capital Issues Committee could not see their way to follow the Select Committee's recommendation in view of that Committee's opinion that the capital to be raised would be devoted to a highly speculative use.
Sir F. HALLIs there any use in Select Committees being appointed at all if the whole Report is to be squashed by the Treasury or some other Government Department?