§ Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCKasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether, in order to assist the railway companies in the 1283W economic management of railway traffic and so enable them to reduce passenger fares, the Ministry will exercise its rights to purchase all the private wagons now being operated on the lines and hand them over on payment to the companies?
§ Mr. NEALCircumstances have changed since the passing of the Ministry of Transport Act, and new arrangements in regard to the future organisation of railways have been made in the Railways Act of last Session. His Majesty's Government recognise these alterations in the position and do not contemplate, so far as they are concerned, the acquisition of privately-owned wagons by the State, a course which, in their view, and as they are at present advised, cannot be regarded as practicable.