§ MR. DAVID THOMAS (Merthyr Tydvil)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if he can state the amount of loan and debenture capital invested with Railway Companies in the United Kingdom upon which no interest has been paid for the year 1889, and upon which the rate of interest actually paid fell short of that at which the principal was borrowed; how much, if any, of the total interest paid on the loan and debenture capital was provided for other than out of bonâ fide income; whether he will arrange to have similar information supplied in future Returns; and in case he has not the necessary authority to enable him to obtain the information now sought, whether he will consent to a Motion for a Return on the subject, if made?
§ *THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Sir M. HICKS BEACH,) Bristol, W.I hardly think it is necessary to call specially for the information desired by the hon. Member, as, if he will compare the net earnings with the amount of debenture capital and rate of interest it bears, which are to be found in the Returns of Railway Capital already published, he will practically obtain what he wants.