Mr. MACLEANasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether the North Devon and Cornwall Junction Light Railway Company has fulfilled the conditions laid down by the Government; whether the Government has now made a grant to assist in the construction of the Torrington and Halwill Light Railway; whether the contract for the works has been executed; when the contractors will be able to start work on the railway; and whether he will use his influence to expedite the opening of this work in order to ease the unemployment situation in this area?
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§ Mr. NEALI regret the delay in starting work on this railway, but I am informed by the Company that their negotiations with contractors are still being actively pursued, and that they hope to fulfill the Government conditions. I fully appreciate the urgency of the scheme as a measure for the relief of unemployment, and hope that it may be possible to commence work very shortly.