asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether, in view of the large number of men unemployed, he will en- deavour to get the Midland Railway Company to carry out the obligation they entered into when they obtained powers to purchase the London, Tilbury, and Southend Railway Company, namely, to electrify the line from London to Southend?

I am afraid I cannot add to the reply given on Wednesday last to the hon. Member for the Plaistow division of West Ham (Mr. W. Thome) on this subject, of which I am sending the hon. and gallant Gentleman a copy.