§ The Duke of Wellingtonbegged to ask the noble Marquis (Lansdowne) opposite whether his Majesty's Ministers were prepared to bring forward any general measure upon the subject of railways?
§ The Marquess of Lansdownereplied that the Government were not at that moment prepared with any plan upon the subject; but, at the same time, be begged to assure the noble Duke that Ministers were exceedingly alive to the great importance of the subject, and that, in the course of a very short time, they should be prepared to come forward with a plan which he hoped and believed would be generally approved of. In the mean time he thought it would be highly desirable to introduce into all the Railway Bills that should come under the consideration of the House, a clause by which they should hereafter become subject to any general plan which the House might deem fit to adopt. He might as well state that a Bill would be brought into the other House of Parliament to carry the proposed object into effect. Their Lordships should recollect, however, that this was a delicate subject to the companies concerned, but he hoped that equal protection might be afforded to them and to the public.
§ The Duke of Wellingtonthought it highly expedient that the Bills now before the House should be rendered subject to any general regulation which the House might afterwards adopt. Therefore, with 499 he permission of the House, he would read a clause which he had prepared upon the subject, and which he thought should be introduced into every Railway Bill that came under their consideration prior to the adoption of a general plan. He would read the clause now, and then lay it on the table of the House in order that it might be printed and considered by their Lordships previous to Thursday next, when he should move its insertion in the first Railway Bill that came before them. The noble Duke then read the clause, to this effect: "Provided always, and be it further enacted, that nothing herein contained shall extend, or be construed to extend, to the exemption of this or any other railroad from the provisions of any general Act or general Acts for the regulation of railroads, which may be passed with a view to the advantage, protection, and security of the public, before the expiration of one year from the passing of this Act, if Parliament shall be sitting at the expiration of such period of one year, or if Parliament should not be then sitting, before the end of the then next session."
§ Subject dropped.