§ MR. O'DOHERTYI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he can state the original contract price for the construction of the Stranorlar and Glenties Railway, county Donegal; what sum was allowed for extras by the arbitrator who some time ago adjudicated upon the matters in dispute between the Board of Works and the contractors; has the sum so awarded been paid to the contractors; what was the amount of the costs and expenses incidental to said arbitration; who has paid said costs and expenses; and, if the Treasury, to what account will the sum so paid be chargeable; and can he say whether any further litigation is at present pending between the contractors and the Government, and, if so, what is its nature.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINThe original contract price was £98,335. £11,092 16s. 2d. was awarded by the arbitrator as extras out of £53,000 odd claimed. The sum awarded has been paid. The fee payable to the arbitrator was £932, half of which has been paid by the Government out of the Vote for Law Charges, Ireland. Further litigation is pending with reference to the incidence of the costs and other matters.