§ 39. Mr. AMMONasked the Minister of Transport on what grounds the assistant secretary to the Ministry was forbidden to reply to certain questions addressed to him at the sitting of the Railway Rates Tribunal on 10th January last?
§ Colonel ASHLEYOn the ground stated in the affidavit furnished to the Tribunal, which is published in their proceedings.
§ Mr. AMMONIs it the intention to conceal the fact that the amount of economies actually effected was very much less than were announced by Sir Eric Geddes when he brought in the proposals to combine the railway companies?
§ Colonel ASHLEYThe hon. Member is quite mistaken.
§ Mr. AMMONIs it not right that Parliament should have the information underlying these railway amalgamations, in order that we may know the facts?
§ Colonel ASHLEYI do not think it is possible to give the information, because it was confidential information furnished to the Minister.