§ 40. Mr. WILLIAM HUTCHISONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether his attention has been called to the fact that, as the result of the recent grouping of certain English and Scottish railways, with the consequent passing of the executive control to the headquarters of these railways in London, orders for all classes of rolling stock and railway materials, which were formerly placed in Scotland for the Scottish sections of these groups, are now being placed with works situated in England, to the serious prejudice of trade and employment in Scotland; and whether he will cause inquiry to be made as to the policy now being adopted in this matter with the view of introducing legislation ensuring that in the future the makers of such rolling stock and railway materials in Scotland are placed at no disadvantage as compared with the position that they occupied before the grouping took place?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of TRANSPORT (Colonel Ashley)I must remind my hon. Friend that the question he raises is one for the commercial discretion of the companies. I am therefore unable to adopt the suggestion contained in the last part of the question.
§ Mr. J. JONESIn view of the powers given by legal enactment to the railway companies, has this House no power to act?
§ Colonel ASHLEYThe Ministry have no power to act. The House has always power to act by legislation.