Lieut.-Colonel Sir PHILIP RICHARDSON:

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the tenders for £5,500,000 were called for by the Southern Railway Company in connection with electrification work guaranteed under the Trade Facilities Act; when the contracts in connection with the same were let; and to what portion of the present Southern Railway system does this electrification apply?

I have been asked to reply. I understand that up to the present tenders have been called for and contracts placed at various dates for approximately £2,000,000 altogether. The electrification to which the hon. and gallant Member refers applies to the South Eastern and Chatham section of the Southern Railway within a radius of about 15 miles from London.

Is that being done on the South-Western section?

I do not know, but I shall be pleased to get the information for the right hon. Gentleman.

If that is not being done, may I press the right hon. Gentleman to approach the South-Western Railway Company?

When will the right hon. Gentleman be able to report progress in connection with other schemes of electrification?

The hon. Member must put that question down on the Paper.