THE EARL OF CAMPERDOWNasked the Government whether there was any objection to including in the annual Report by the Board of Trade of their proceedings and of the proceedings of the Commissioners under the Light Railways Act, (1) a Return of the cost to the promoters of each light railway scheme, in a schedule showing how much of the said cost was incurred in payments to agents, counsel, witnesses, and otherwise; and (2) a statement of the number of opponents who made appearance at the local inquiry against each opposed scheme, and whether they were represented by counsel or agents. There was great difference of opinion as to the relative cost of these proceedings, and therefore such a Return would be of great public use.
§ VISCOUNT CROSSsaid he was requested to state that the information asked for in the second part of the Question would be included in the annual Report referred to. The Board of Trade, however, had no power to obtain the particulars of cost mentioned in the first part of the Question except in cases—none of which had yet arisen—where the local authorities were the sole promoters. They could not give those Returns, therefore, because they had not got them.
THE EARL OF CAMPERDOWNsaid he understood from the Light Railway Commissioners that it would be at all events easy to ask the promoters to give such Returns.
§ VISCOUNT CROSSdid not think there would be any objection to ask for them, but they could not promise to get them. [laughter.] It was undesirable to promise Returns which the Board of Trade had no power to obtain, and for the accuracy of which they could not be made responsible.
THE EARL OF CAMPERDOWNsaid if they could not get a loaf they must be content with half. If these Returns were asked for, he thought that would effect his object.