Sir Eric Geddes: It is not necessary to go into that question. That is a different matter. As the House knows, the Government, subject to the confirmation of this House, have come to a settlement with the majority of the railways—with the Railway Companies' Association. I know that my right hon. Friend dissents, but perhaps he will kindly take that as agreed in every case. By that settlement, if the House...
Sir Eric Geddes: It was quite a different thing from the coal pool. That is one very good reason why it was necessary to make that part of the whole settlement. That is the reason I gave my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol (Mr. Inskip) the other day. Having brought, very briefly, the railway position before the House, I will now explain what is intended by the Bill and why we have adopted the...
Sir Eric Geddes: That is provided for in the Bill. If you eliminate competition now—I think it was sufficiently eliminated before—you can make the proper and required safeguards. You have, of course, to safeguard the public against the oppression of a monopoly. That is provided for, and there is a proposal in the Report from which I have read. On the one hand we hear it said, and we read it in the papers,...
Sir Eric Geddes: We are in the hands of the House. I do not want to impose unnecessary control. I want to put the thing fairly. I want to give the railways a reasonable amount of freedom in their management, and the community a proper amount of control. The railways are strongly represented in this House, and they, as well as the public, will be represented in Committee. Let us discuss it there. It is not a...
Sir Eric Geddes: Quite right. They said: "We want amalgamation and complete fusion with the English companies, and although we are in this precarious condition now, we want to be taken over by the English companies in our pre-War pristine beauty." You cannot ask English shareholders to do that, because it is absolutely impossible. That is the great crux. They say: "Who is to put us on our feet?" I do not...
Sir Eric Geddes: No.
Sir Eric Geddes: I would like to have an understanding on this. It is very important, and if my right hon. Friend regrets the omission of men from the Board, he is only joining me in my regret. There was no pressure on the leaders of the men at all. The men placed far less importance on it eventually than I thought they did and had reason to think they did, and, without coming back to me and saying, "Now,...
Sir Eric Geddes: If my right hon. Friend will look at the Memorandum he will find that it embodies the agreement between the parties, and if this Clause does not give effect to that agreement we are open to amend it in any way that may be necessary to secure that end.
Sir Eric Geddes: The arrangement my right hon. Friend has described is an agreement between the railways and the unions, and it is not an arrangement that has been created or imposed upon them by the Government.
Sir Eric Geddes: As my hon. Friend is, I think, aware, the railway companies generally oppose the publication and profess not to compile cost figures which will enable Parliament to judge fully of the justification for increased charging powers. The trading community is, in my judgment, insufficiently alive to the imperative need in their own interest of adequate statistical and cost information of the...
Sir Eric Geddes: No portion of the sum mentioned has yet been definitely indicated to individual highway authorities. The authorities are now sending in their estimates of expenditure on the maintenance and improvement of classified roads for the year 1921–22. When these estimates have been examined and approved, the grants will be indicated and payments made in quarterly instalments. Treasury approval of...
Sir Eric Geddes: The taxation only came in at the beginning of the year, and every endeavour has been made to adjust the arrangements in the meantime. The question of the funding of loans as a more economical way of maintaining the roads by capital expenditure, rather than going on with more costly maintenance, is one of the items that we have to consider, and I hope within the next few days to consider it.
Sir Eric Geddes: Yes, Sir.
Sir Eric Geddes: Railwaymen, under the terms of their engagement, ought to give notice before leaving the company's service. The period of such notice is usually a week.
Sir Eric Geddes: I cannot say. I do not know whether notices were given. I should think probably not.
Sir Eric Geddes: I should be very glad to try to get people to observe their, contracts.
Sir Eric Geddes: No return is made of the number of excursion trains, but the railway statistics now published monthly include particulars of the number of excursion passengers conveyed and the receipts therefrom. The returns for March have not yet been received from the railway companies, but they will be published as soon as they are available.
Sir Eric Geddes: No decision has yet been arrived at in regard to an appointment to fill the existing vacancy among my nominees on the Port of London Authority. There is no salary attached to the appointment as my representative.
Sir Eric Geddes: It will be convenient if I answer this question and No. 15 at the same time. It is intended to re-introduce the Electricity (Supply) Bill to-morrow.
Sir Eric Geddes: No, it will be modified.