§ Mr. PIELOUasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether the development schemes, which the railway companies are accelerating at the request of the Prime Minister, will include the provision of new rolling stock and bridges; and, if so, whether he will ask the railway companies to endeavour to place a fair proportion of their orders at Oldbury and Wednesbury and adjoining districts in view of the abnormal unemployment prevailing in that part of the country?
§ Lieut.-Colonel ASHLEYAs regards the first part of the question, the provision or reconstruction of bridges, and, where electrification is proposed, the con-2394W struction of new rolling stock, will no doubt in some instances be necessary. As regards the second part, the railway companies must determine the particular localities in which they place their orders in accordance with the usual commercial practice.