§ 23. Mr. PILCHERasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he is aware that, on his recent visit to Burma, the Chief Commissioner for Indian railways announced that the Indian Railway Board were prepared to sanction expenditure for the construction of over 1,000 miles of new railway line in Burma and that a detailed scheme for the construction of over 1,850 miles of line in that province is in existence; and whether he will take stops to draw the attention of business men in this country to the opportunities which will shortly be offered for the manufacture of railway plant by this scheme?
§ Mr. A. M. SAMUEL (Secretary, Overseas Trade Department)I am aware that a scheme for the construction of some 1,850 miles of railway line in Burma has been projected, and I am informed that sanction has been granted for a survey of a part of the line. As regards the second part of the question, I can assure my hon. Friend that my Department will take every opportunity to bring the eventual requirements for railway plant entailed by these extensions to the notice of manufacturers in this country.