HC Deb 31 July 1896 vol 43 cc1315-6

(Considered in Committee.)

[MR. J. W. LOWTHER, CHAIRMAN of WAYS and MEANS, in the Chair.]

THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. R. W. HANBURY, Preston) moved:— That it is expedient to authorise the remission of a debt due from the Draperstown Railway Company to the Public Works Loan Commissioners, in pursuance of any Act of the present Session to grant moneys for the purpose of certain Local Loans, and for other purposes relating to Local Loans.

MR. T. M. HEALY

asked whether the Secretary to the Treasury could by any means bring pressure to bear on this railway company to recoup the widow of a certain official for loss she had incurred, and also whether the railway company had been approached to wipe out the debt, or was it a mere bookkeeping matter. He asked who was responsible for something like a job?

* MR. HANBURY

said he wished that he could give the information. The sale of this railway was effected for the small sum of £2,000 in 1894 under a system which he did not think was a proper way of selling an undertaking of this kind. He would put the case of the widow before the Treasury if the hon. Member would give him the particulars, and see how far they could deal with it. But the sale complained of had not been effected by the present Government. The responsibility rested with the Ministry of the day, and the Department which carried out the arrangements—namely, the late Chancellor of the Exchequer and the late Secretary to the Treasury. The debt was practically valueless; it was merely a book-keeping arrangement.

Resolution agreed to; to be reported to-morrow.