§ 26. Sir R. THOMASasked the Minister of Transport whether, seeing that civil engineering difficulties at Liverpool Street Station are largely responsible for the delay in formulating an electrification scheme for the suburban lines of the London and North Eastern Railway Company, any plan for overcoming these difficulties is now under consideration?
§ Colonel ASHLEYI am informed by the railway company that their traffic and technical officers are at present engaged in considering the question of the electrification of the suburban lines leading into Liverpool Street Station.
§ Mr. SHINWELLIs the Minister aware that the London and North Eastern Railway Company have been considering this question for many years, 1154 but that nothing has been done, in spite of the appalling, and even dangerous, congestion at Liverpool Street?
Sir GEORGE HAMILTONDoes the Minister propose to put into operation the recommendations of the committee which he himself set up, to inquire into travelling facilities in the East End of London?
§ Colonel ASHLEYMy recollection is that the committee did not make any recommendations which I myself can carry out and that I can only carry them out with the co-operation of various bodies. As to the question put by the hon. Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Shinwell), I know that this matter has been a long time under consideration, but, after all, it is a matter for the railway company, and I have no power to compel them to act.
§ Sir R. THOMASWill the right hon. and gallant Gentleman try to expedite the matter?
§ Colonel ASHLEYI have been trying to expedite it for three years.