asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether he has any powers of control over the alteration of ordinary traffic on railways during race meetings, causing grave inconvenience to the regular users of the line; and whether he will consider the desirability of asking Parliament for such powers as will enable him to exercise some control in this direction?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. If the hon. Baronet will give my hon. Friend particulars of the grave inconvenience which is alleged to have been caused, he will bring the matter to the attention of the railway company in question, but he is unable to advise legislation in the sense indicated in the last part of the question.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether he can state the general policy of his Department and of the Road Board in respect to the urgent need for new methods of road-making to enable thoroughfares to carry the enormous weight of modern traffic; whether it is time to consider the initiation of schemes by the various councils; and whether he proposes, and, if so, when, to issue to those bodies any general advice as to the action they should take?

It is the policy of the Ministry of Transport, which exercises the functions of the late Road Board, to encourage local authorities by substantial grants from the Road Fund to adopt the most scientific methods of road engineering. The Ministry is in the closest touch with the officers of the local authorities, and places at their disposal all the advice and assistance in its power.