§ Mr. LAMBasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport on what date the Ministry of Munitions came to an agreement with the London and South Western Railway Company in regard to the amount of compensation 2174W to be paid for the permanent-way materials of the Basingstoke and Alton Light Railway; whether any objection was raised by the Ministry of Munitions in the public interest to such compensation being calculated on the scale applicable to materials taken from a running line which will not be restored; and whether, seeing that it is part of the functions of the Ministry of Transport to safeguard public interest in the matter of securing the maximum development and extension of the carriage by railway of merchandise and of passengers and their luggage, he will state what steps has his Department taken to secure the reinstatement of the Basingstoke and Alton line?
§ Colonel ASHLEYI am communicating the first two parts of this question to the Disposal and Liquidation Commission, and am asking them to supply my hon. Friend with the information desired if they are in a position to do so. With regard to the last part of the question, I am informed that the Clause in the Southern Railway Company's Bill authorising the abandonment of the line has now been struck out. As the hon. Member is aware, I arranged a conference between the local interests and the company, who were not prepared to give any undertaking as to the restoration of the line, and I have nothing to add to the answer which I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Basingstoke (Sir A. Holbrook) on 29th November, 1922, a copy of which I am sending to my hon. Friend.