HC Deb 14 July 1942 vol 381 cc1083-4
67. Sir William Davison

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether the Government have under consideration any scheme for the nationalisation of the railways after the war; and whether he will give an assurance that this House will be consulted before any decision is arrived at on this subject?

The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport (Sir Arthur Salter)

A preliminary survey is being made of the post-war transport problem, including the position of the railways. Before any proposals for future

Numbers of men and women students entering Training Colleges or University Training Departments in England and Wales in each of the years 1939, 1940 and 1941.
1939. 1940. 1041.
Men. Women. Men. Women. Men. Women.
University and University College Training Departments 906 808 631 787 507 775
Post Graduate Training Colleges 2 55 2 48 — 52
Two Year Training Colleges and Domestic Science Training Colleges 1,186 3,676 1,250 3,576 717 3,568
TOTALS 2,094 4,539 1,883 4,411 1,224 4,395

policy are formulated, full opportunity will be given to all interests concerned to express their views, and, of course, no such change as my hon. Friend refers to could be made without the approval of Parliament.

Sir W. Davison

Has the attention of the Minister been drawn to the recent statement by the President, at the Conference of the National Union of Railway-men, that the Government have already decided that there will be no private ownership of the railways after the war?

Sir A. Salter

I have not seen that statement, but it was not made by a representative of the Government and does not represent a decision taken by the Government.

Major Petherick

Will the Minister bear in mind that it would be considered a serious breach of faith, if, during a period of semi-political truce and under a coalition Government, long-term plans were made for the alteration of our economic structure after the war?