§ Captain WATERHOUSEasked the Minister of Transport if, in view of the unemployment and short time prevalent in the engineering industry, he will urge the railway companies to expedite repairs and renewals by an expenditure from the moneys paid to them by the Government on the expiration of control?
§ Lieut. - Colonel ASHLEYAs my hon. and gallant Friend will appreciate, the execution of railway re-pairs and renewals is a matter for which the railway companies are responsible, and I would remind him that, under the terms of the Railways Act, 1921, the companies have discretion as to the application of the moneys to which he refers. I may add that I believe the companies to be alive to the situation which he has in mind.