§ Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether he is kept aware of the terms under which the smaller railway companies are being amalgamated into the western group; whether these terms are subject to the approval of any body charged with regarding the public interest; and, in particular, what compensation for loss of office is proposed to be paid to the directors of the Rhymney Railway, Cardiff Railway, Taff Vale Railway, and Penarth Railway?
653W
§ Mr NEALThe provisions relating to the approval of schemes are contained in Part I of the Railways Act, and can hardly be summarised within the limits of an answer, and I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the Act, particularly to Sections 7 (5) and 9 (6), which contain provisions for securing publicity for proposed schemes and the hearing of objections by the Amalgamation Tribunal. No amalgamation scheme for the western group has yet been submitted, and I have, therefore, no information as to any proposals which may be contained in the scheme for the compensation of directors of the railways specified in the question. I may, however, invite my hon. and gallant Friend's attention to Section 3 (1) (d) of the Railways Act, which provides that an amalgamation or absorption scheme may, with the consent of the proprietors, provide for the payment of compensation out of the assets of a constituent or subsidiary company to the directors of the company who suffer loss by abolition of office.