§ Major Owenasked the Minister of Transport whether he will give his reasons for not taking over the Festiniog Railway. as was the case in the last war; and whether he is prepared to give the railway financial assistance should it be unable to carry on economically as a direct result of war conditions?
§ Captain WallaceThe controlled railways are those deemed to be necessary for essential transport in war and the Festiniog Railway, which is a narrow-gauge line and does not form an integral part of the main line system or provide an alternative to a route carrying heavy traffic, is not considered to come within that category. I have no funds from which financial assistance could be granted to this company.