§ Mr. SWANasked the Minister of Transport why steps are not being taken to construct railways between Eastgate station, in Durham, and Allendale, in Northumberland, and Middleton-in-Tees-dale and Alston, as such railways would open out valuable mineral and agricultural areas and at the same, time find continuous valuable productive work for men now out of work?
§ Sir E. GEDDESThe proposal for a railway between Eastgate and Allendale has not been investigated in detail, owing to the decision of His Majesty's Government that schemes involving expenditure, not yet in operation, are to remain in abeyance. In the case of the proposed railway between Middleton-in-Teesdale and Alston, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave him on the 18th November last and would add that in this case also the decision of His Majesty's Government as to restriction of expenditure necessitates that the proposals should remain in abeyance.