§ 60. Mr. HANNONasked the Minister of Transport whether he can make any statement on the progress which has been achieved in the past six months in the development of railway electrification with the object of reducing unemployment; whether he has received a series of Reports, prepared by experts, all of which tend to prove that the increase of railway transport facilities through electrification would be economically advantageous to the railways themselves and a great convenience to the travelling public, while providing orders for the electrical industry which is now suffering from foreign competition; and whether he is aware that the schemes of electrification which are regarded as necessary would, if proceeded with, provide employment for upwards of 20,000 skilled artisans during the next few years?
§ Colonel ASHLEYI am aware that the views referred to in this question are widely held by persons whose opinion is entitled to respect. So far as the general question of railway electrification is concerned, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply, of which I am sending him a copy, to a question on the subject asked on 30th June by the hon. Member for Penistone, and to the remarks I made when the Ministry of Transport Vote was under discussion on the 21st May, since which date electrical working has been started on several sections of the Southern Railway.
§ Mr. HANNONMay I ask whether the Government is not really keeping treating this matter too lightly, and whether they are using their influence with the railway companies to encourage electrification and thus to provide employment for the skilled artisans who are now leaving the country?
§ Colonel ASHLEYWe are continuing to impress on the companies that electrification will be a desirable thing, and I hope that when the Government proposals with regard to electrification become law they may increase the supply and distribution of electricity, and thereby improve the chances of electrification for the companies.
§ Mr. HANNONWill the right hon. Gentleman indicate to the House what he is doing with the railway companies?
§ Mr. KIRKWOODWhen is the Department going to take into consideration the electrification of the underground railway system in and around the West of Scot-land?
§ Mr. R. MORRISONMay I ask whether the Southern Railway Company is the only company which has recently made decisions to electrify parts of its line, and whether any other company has come to any such decision?
§ Colonel ASHLEYNot that I know.
§ Sir J. NALLMay I ask whether there is any reason to suppose that the electrification of railways is delayed by any question affecting the supply of current?
§ Colonel ASHLEYThat is a matter of opinion.
§ Mr. HARRISDoes the right hon. Gentleman remember that last May a scheme was promised by the Government, and that a scheme was then before the Cabinet?
§ Colonel ASHLEYSurely the hon. Member will agree that it is much better to have a well thought out scheme.
Mr. THOMASMay we take it that on all these matters the Government's policy is now to wait for "a well thought out scheme"?
§ Colonel ASHLEYYes, it is better. The Government are hastening by going slowly.
§ Mr. TAYLORIs it not a fact that the companies promised Mr. Bonar Law in 1922 that they would prepare schemes for electrification, in order to relieve unemployment in the winter of 1922–23?