§ MR. MONKasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether any award has been made in respect of the claims of certain Railway Companies for compensation for the transfer of their telegraphs to the Government; and, also whether the payment of such awards has been provided for in the Vote already taken in Committee of Supply?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERSir, an important award has been given in the case of the arbitration between the Post Office and the Great Eastern Railway. The amount which was claimed by the railway company was £504,000; the amount which was awarded was £77,000; that sum has been provided, but it has not been voted in Supply, nor is it necessary or proper that it should. The money will be taken from the capital authorized to be raised by loan under the Telegraphs Act a few years ago. The powers of that Act are not exhausted, and they are more than sufficient to meet this claim. One or two other claims by railway companies are under consideration, but of course I am unable to say what the awards may be.