§ MR. THOMAS O'DONNELL (Kerry, W.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state the British Colonies in which railways are managed by the State; the total mileage, original capital, and annual revenue of the State railways in each of those Colonies; the average earning per train mile in the Colonies where there is State management; the average earning per train mile in England, Ireland, and Scotland; the percentage of revenue that goes to shareholders in England, Scotland, and Ireland; and in Colonies where railways are State-owned the percentage which is free for State purposes.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. LLOYD-GEORGE, Carnarvon Boroughs)On the 7th instant I had forwarded to the hon. Member a copy of the Return granted on the 13th November, on the Motion of my hon. friend the Member for North Paddington, showing the cost of building, or acquisition, the financial results (revenue, working expense, net loss or profit, etc.), etc., etc., of certain railways in foreign countries and British possessions. This Return is still in process of compilation, as the particulars have had to be asked for through the Foreign Office and the Colonial Office from the different Governments concerned.