§ 32. Mr. CASSELLSasked the Minister of Transport whether he is prepared, in view of the harm done by the drift south of Scottish industries, to recommend complete electrification of our present system of railways, in an effort to afford speedier and cheaper means of transport between Scotland and England?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAI am not sure that the result which the hon. Member desires would necessarily follow, but in any case the responsibility for initiating schemes for the electrification of railways rests with the railway companies.
§ Mr. CASSELLSDoes the right hon. Gentleman not conceive that such a suggestion would benefit Scotland from two points of view—first, from the point of view of assisting industry and, secondly, from the point of view of assisting in dealing with the unemployment problem? In these circumstances, I would ask the Minister whether he would be prepared to bring his good influence to bear upon the railway companies in connection with this important matter?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAI can only repeat what I have said. The hon. Gentleman is concerned with the drift of people from Scotland to England, but if we improve transport facilities, the drift will presumably be increased.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENWould it not improve the conditions of railway transport if the right hon. Gentleman took the shackles off road transport?