Mr. HUTCHISONasked the Minister of Transport whether he will recommend traffic commissioners to give greater weight to the objections of railway companies to the granting of coach licences, when such objections are made on the ground that adequate alternative services are available by electrified lines, than to objections made in respect of non-electrified lines; and, if not, whether he will take an early opportunity of announcing his policy in this connection with a view to accelerating the electrification of suburban lines?
§ Mr. PYBUSI have no doubt that where there are alternative facilities in the form of electrified railway services, the railway companies bring this fact to the notice of the commissioners, and that the commissioners are in a position to give it such weight as they think proper. I do not think that, in these circumstances, any action on my part is called for at present.