§ 62. Mr. J. H. THOMASasked the Minister of Transport whether Mr. Andrews, late solicitor to the London and North Western Railway Company, is acting for the Minister of Transport; and, if so, whether he will explain why Mr. Andrews is allowed to act also for the railway companies?
§ Sir E. GEDDESThe late solicitor to the London and North Western Railway is not acting and has not at any time acted for the Ministry of Transport; he is employed by the railway companies, and has, with the honorary solicitor to a committee of the Railway Companies' Association, been in consultation, on behalf of the railway companies, with the Ministry of Transport on various points in connection with the forthcoming Bill. He is in no way connected with the Ministry of Transport, and I think that the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Member for the City of London on Friday was made in error.
§ Sir F. BANBURYMay I ask the Minister of Transport whether I ought not to have used the word "assisting" instead of "acting," and whether, as a matter of fact, Mr. Andrews, who is neither solicitor nor honorary solicitor to the Railway Association, is not, as a matter of fact, assisting the Minister of Transport at the present moment?
§ Sir E. GEDDESMr. Andrews is in consultation with the Minister of Trans port, together with Mr. Dixon Davies, and both, as far as I am concerned, are solicitors representing the railway companies.
§ Mr. THOMASCan the right hon. Gentleman say if the railway companies appoint someone to conduct negotiations, and then these representatives are charged with acting for the Ministry of Transport, who are we to accept as representing the railway companies?
§ Sir E. GEDDESI am afraid I cannot answer that, for the railway companies must appoint their own representatives. Mr. Andrews is in no way representative of my Department.