§ 46. Mr. Ray Powellasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set up a working party to investigate, on the basis of British Railways investment plans and maintenance programme, the potential demand for track sleepers and the extent to which this could be met by the adoption of steel manufactured track sleepers from United Kingdom sources.
§ 47. Mr Stuart Hollandasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will issue a general direction to British Railways to use steel sleepers manufactured in the United Kingdom wherever possible in the construction of new track and in track maintenance.
§ Mr. FowlerThese are operational matters for which the British Railways Board has sole responsibility. I 403W understand, however, that the board is currently experimenting with the use of steel sleepers manufactured and supplied by the British Steel Corporation.