§ 70. Mr. GILBERTasked the Minister of Transport how many special establishments he has under Government control for the manufacture and repair of railway engines and wagons on the same or similar basis as Woolwich and Rich-borough; and can he make any general statement as to the results of "work in such establishments towards relieving the pressure on the railways at the present time?
§ Sir E. GEDDESThere are no special establishments of the class mentioned under the control of the Minister of Transport. The repairing shops at Rich-borough, which are under the Ministry of Munitions, have enabled wagons returned from France to be put into running repair more speedily than would 16 otherwise have been the case, and have thus contributed to the relief of the pressure on the railways.
§ Colonel ASHLEYMay I ask how long these repairs have been carried on at Richborough?
§ Sir E. GEDDESThat is a question for the Ministry of Munitions. It is not under the Ministry of Transport.
§ Mr. LAMBERTIs it intended to be the permanent policy of the Government to repair and supply railway engines and wagons?
§ Sir E. GEDDESI think that question should be addressed to the Ministry of Munitions and to the Transport Ministry.