§ 9. Mr. HANNONasked the Lord Privy Seal whether further progress has been made in relation to schemes of electrification on the London and North Eastern Railway?
Mr. THOMASI cannot at present add anything to the reply which I gave the hon. Member on the 8th April.
§ Mr. HANNONDoes the right hon. Gentleman know that this project has been in hand for two or three years, and cannot he endeavour to press the railway company to come to some conclusion with regard to it?
Mr. THOMASIt is not true that it has been in hand for so long; at least, as far as I am aware, it has been in hand only during the period of our office. It is not a year. Although sanction was given by this House to the general railway schemes last August, this particular company did not apply until four or five 7 weeks ago. The hon. Member and the House generally will appreciate that, however anxious we may be, we cannot sanction the expenditure of public money without investigation, and I am insisting in all these cases upon a proper investigation.
§ Mr. A. M. SAMUELDoes the right hon. Gentleman forget that in the hearing of this House the Chancellor of the Duchy said that £70,000,000 would be spent on work at Liverpool Street Station?
Mr. THOMASI do not remember that, but at all events the railway companies themselves, and this particular company, must make their own applications. It is not for the Government to say to a concern, "We will give you the money." It is for them to make application, and then that application must be considered.
§ Sir LAMING WORTHINGTON-EVANSCan the right hon. Gentleman not give more information about the particular scheme of £75,000,000, the Liverpool Street electrification scheme, about which he spoke a year ago?
Mr. THOMASThe right hon. Gentleman obviously got up in a hurry, because the question directed to me is to ask whether further progress has been made in relation to schemes of electrification on the London and North Eastern Railway. The hon. Member's previous question had reference to the electrification of the London and North Eastern Railway at Liverpool Street, and I replied telling him that at last a scheme had been submitted. I have replied again to-day, saying that that scheme is being examined.
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSIs that the £70,000,000 or the £75,000,000 scheme to which the Chancellor of the Duchy referred more than nine months ago as a scheme then in existence?