Lieut.-Colonel SPENDER CLAYasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether the 154 super-heated locomotives which were built for use with the railway operating department, and which are now surplus to requirements, have been allocated free of charge to railway companies under the direction of the Ministry of Transport; and, if not, on what terms did the railway companies take over these engines?
§ Sir E. GEDDESI have been asked to reply to this question. It is not proposed to allocate locomotives to railway companies free of charge. Negotiations are in progress as to the terms upon which they are to be transferred for use on controlled railways.