68. Sir NAIRNE STEWART SANDE-MANasked the Minister of Transport whether he has received a report on the recommendations of the Standing Committee on Mineral Transport, issued by the Fdereation of British Industries, in which the Federation supports the Standing Committee in dissenting from proposals advocating the abolition of the private ownership of railway wagons and in which it also opposes the compulsory pooling of wagons; and what action he proposes to take in this matter?
§ Mr. HERBERT MORRISONI have received a joint memorandum from the Federation and several other bodies on this subject, and last week, in conjunction with my hon. Friend, the Secretary for Mines, I received a deputation from those bodies which included representatives of the Federation. As I then explained, the Government have not yet reached any conclusions with regard to the recommendations of the Standing Committee, and I am, therefore, unable as yet to state what action will be taken. The representations received from the Federation and other bodies interested in this problem will be carefully considered.
Sir N. STEWART SANDEMANIf I ask another question in a fortnight, will 434 the hon. Gentleman be able to give me an answer?
§ Mr. MORRISONI should very much doubt it.