Mr. T. THOMSONasked the President of the Board of Trade what are the total. number of British railway companies' engines, trucks, and goods wagons of all descriptions oversea; and whether the Gorman engines and wagons to be handed over under the terms of the Armistice can be used in their place, so that all British ones may be returned at once, in order to relieve the serious shortage of railway plant in all industrial centres in this country?
§ Mr. FORSTER570 locomotives and 29,648 wagons owned by the British railway companies have been sent oversea. Of these 458 locomotives and 29,398 wagons are no longer required for military purposes oversea and their transfer to England is being effected as quickly as available transport facilities permit.