EARL DE LA WAREasked, Whether it was the intention of Her Majesty's Government to lay on the Table a further Return by the Railway Companies of the United Kingdom, in pursuance of the Railway Returns (Continuous Brakes) Act, 1878? Up to the time of the last 1701 Return most of the Companies had expressed themselves willing to take into their consideration this important question; but a very large proportion had taken few steps in the matter. He believed the Brighton Company had adopted a brake, and the Great Northern Company had made many experiments, but had come to no conclusion. Between 1870 and 1876, out of 1,234 accidents investigated by the officers of the Board of Trade, 952, or nearly four-fifths of the whole, might have been prevented, or their effects materially lessened, had there been continuous brakes. He also wished to ask, Whether there was any objection to lay on the Table any Correspondence which had taken place between the Railway Companies and the Board of Trade on the subject of brake power, and whether the London and North-Western Railway Company still refused to comply with the requirements of the Board of Trade?
§ LORD HENNIKER, in reply, said, a Return as to continuous brakes under the Act of last year—the Railway Returns (Continuous Brakes) Act—for the half-year ended June 30 was being tabulated and printed, and would be presented with the least possible delay—probably on Tuesday next. In reply to the further Question—of which his noble Friend the noble Earl had given him private Notice—namely,
To ask if there is any objection to laying upon the Table of the House the Correspondence between the Board of Trade and Railway Companies relative to the use of brakes, and to ask whether the London and North-Western Railway Company still refuse to adopt the requirements of the Board of Trade?he had only to say that all the Correspondence between the Board of Trade and the Railway Companies on the use of continuous brakes was already before Parliament; and that from the Return received from the London and North-Western Railway Company for the first half of the year it appeared that they were still using a brake known as Clark and Webb's chain brake, which from the Returns did not appear to be continuous throughout the train or automatic in its action.