Mr. MALONEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether a guarantee of £6,500,000 has been made to the South Eastern and Chatham Railway Company under the Trade Facilities Act, 1921, for the electrification of suburban lines; whether he is aware that districts radiating in a northeasterly and east-north-easterly direction from the City are provided with more inadequate train facilities than any other suburban locality; and whether, taking into consideration the large amount of unemployed labour power now available, he will consult with the Great Eastern Railway Company with a view to putting into effect a scheme for the electrification of suburban lines?
§ Mr. NEALI am aware of the congestion at certain hours in the districts named. I have been in consultation with the Great Eastern Railway, and have informed them that the Trade Facilities Committee are prepared to consider an application from them for assistance in raising capital for electrification work, but I understand that they do not propose to make such an application.