Lieut.-Colonel MURRAY:

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport the nature of the statutory sanction under which the Edinburgh tramway inquiry is to be held; and whether, having regard to such sanction, the question of amenity can or cannot be included within the scope of the inquiry?

Under the terms of the Edinburgh Corporation Acts and Orders mechanical power can only be used on the tramways with the consent of, and according to a system approved by, the Minister of Transport, whose consent is also necessary to any alteration of the position of the tramlines in the roadway. The purpose of the inquiry is to elicit such information as may be necessary to enable a correct decision to be arrived at. The safety of the public is, of course, the primary object, but the Minister does not appear to be precluded from taking other matters into consideration.

Lieut.-Colonel MURRAY:

Will the hon. Gentleman say definitely whether or not the question of amending can be included within the scope of the inquiry?

I do not propose to limit the discretion of the people holding the inquiry.

Captain BENN:

Would it be possible to consult the Edinburgh City Council before the terms of reference are settled, seeing that that is the body chiefly concerned?

The Edinburgh City Council are in full harmony now with the inquiry which is to be held.