§ Mr. RAMSDENasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has made any representations to the railway companies 2436W regarding the subject of the replacement of private wagons; if so, whether he has received a reply; and can he state its nature?
§ Colonel ASHLEY:I have been asked to reply. As I stated on the 16th April, in reply to a question by the hon. and gallant Member for Central Hull (Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy), the whole question of the more economic user of mineral wagons on the railways is actively under consideration by the Standing Committee on Mineral Transport. It is hoped that the report of the Committee may be available in the near future; and my hon. Friend will appreciate that the Government desire to have at their disposal the considered views of the Committee, on which all the interests concerned, including the railway companies, are represented, and which has been studying this question exhaustively.