HC Deb 18 February 1930 vol 235 cc1147-9
42. Sir KENYON VAUGHAN- MORGAN

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether any Government guarantee or loan has been promised in connection with the construction of the projected tube railway between Liverpool Street and Ilford; and, if so, whether these terms will be available for other projects of a like kind in the metropolitan area?

44. Sir GEORGE HAMILTON

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is now in a position to inform the House as to what progress he has made in his negotiations with the London and North Eastern Railway Company for the electrification of Liverpool Street Station or for building a tube to Ilford and the east?

are upwards of £3,500,000, and that I believe there are schemes under consideration needing probably nearly £5,000,000, he will understand that the authorities appreciate the generosity of the terms.

Following are details of schemes already approved:

Mr. THOMAS

The London and North Eastern Railway Company have given careful consideration to the development of their suburban traffic in the neighbourhood of Liverpool Street. The company state that a scheme of electrification has been prepared, but that in their view no such scheme will be adequate to the satisfactory solution of the problem unless provision is also made for a tube for the conveyance of the bulk of the suburban traffic between Liverpool Street and Ilford. As stated by my hon. Friend the Minister of Transport on the 5th February, the railway company are at present in communication with a well-known firm of engineers with a view to the preparation of a plan and estimates for a line of this description. When these plans have been received, it will be open to the company to make application for assistance to the Development (Loan Guarantees and Grants) Committee.

Sir G. HAMILTON

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell me the approximate date when this scheme will have been considered by the London and North Eastern Railway Company and my friends in Ilford may have some hope of getting this tube started?

Mr. THOMAS

It is now at least six months since I first intervened in this matter, and I can say no more than that there have been letters, representations, and interviews, and that matters have reached the stage announced to-day.

Sir LAMING WORTHINGTON-EVANS

May I ask whether this is all that remains of the schemes for £75,000,000 of which we heard?

Mr. THOMAS

No, it is not all that remains; I hope it is the commencement. Up to now the railway companies themselves, in various schemes, some sanctioned, and some under consideration, have made applications amounting to about £25,000,000. The London and North Eastern have been the last to put in their application. It is not for me to tell them how to do their job, but it is for them to make their application.

Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANS

But did not the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster tell the House of Commons in August last that schemes had already been prepared amounting to from £75,000,000 to £100,000,000?