Captain MARTINasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether he is aware that a Clause was inserted in the Midland Railway (London, Tilbury, and Southend Railway Company Purchase) Bill in July, 1912, to the effect that the company should forthwith prepare a scheme for working the traffic by electric power on the route between Fenchurch Station and Southend-on-Sea; and what extension of time has been granted to this company to carry out the obligation imposed on them by Act of Parliament when the Bill was passed into law?
§ Lieut.-Colonel ASHLEYI am aware of the provisions of Section 21 of the Midland Railway (London, Tilbury, and Southend Railway Purchase) Act, 1912, to which the hon. and gallant Member refers. That Section provided that the Midland Railway Company should apply to Parliament for any powers necessary to carry out an electrification scheme not later than the Session of 1914, and the period so limited was extended by an Act of 1914 to the Session of 1916, and by an Order, under the Special Acts (Extension of Time) Act, 1915, to the Session of 1917. There have been no further extensions.