61. Mr. TYSON WILSONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether any payments have been made from the National Exchequer in respect to the conveyance on the railways of troops and munitions during the War; if so, can he state the approximate amount; and, if not, will he explain the meaning of the statement regarding the present financial position of the railways that a liability is imposed upon the National Exchequer?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANNo direct payments have hitherto been made by the Exchequer to the controlled railway companies for the conveyance of troops and munitions, but so far as such conveyance involves an 1069 increase in railway working expenses and a reduction in ordinary traffic receipts, the Exchequer is affected in accordance with the arrangement under which the railway companies are guaranteed their pre-war net receipts.
Mr. THOMASIs it true that the Government for more than one year since the War received money from the railway companies over and above the expenditure, notwithstanding that no payment was made for all the troops conveyed?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI should like to see that question on the Paper.