22. Lieut.-Colonel GUINNESSasked the Minister of Transport what part the then deputy general manager of the North Eastern Railway took prior to the outbreak of war in the negotiations which led to the 1914 railway agreement?
§ The MINISTER of TRANSPORT (Sir Eric Geddes)The question refers to myself. The Board of Trade records show that the first meeting between that Department and the railway companies to negotiate the 1914 Agreement was held on 31st July, 1914; that I was present at that meeting only, and that I resigned from the Railway Executive Committee forthwith, and took no further part in the negotiations.
Lieut.-Colonel GUINNESSCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether the 1496 principles finally embodied in the Railway Agreement were sketched out at that original meeting?
§ Sir E. GEDDESI am afraid I cannot remember what happened at the meeting of 31st July, but I am quite sure there were many subsequent meetings when the whole question was discussed.