§ Mr. STEVENSasked the Minister of Transport whether the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company have no statutory authority to convey by road merchandise traffic which does not pass over their railway during any portion of its journey; why he permits that company to carry on the business of road carriers; and why he is not being furnished with particulars of the traffic and with accounts to show the extent of the loss incurred in this particular department, a loss which is being borne by the Government?
§ Mr. NEALI hope my hon. Friend will excuse my giving a legal opinion as to the statutory rights of individual railway companies. The whole subject of road conveyance of goods by railway companies has been considered by a Committee which was appointed to advise on the matter, and the reports of this Committee, which are contained in Command Paper 1,228, are now under consideration. The Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company states that the services are remunerative.