§ 1. Lieutenant-Colonel Sir J. NORTON GRIFFITHSasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will publish the text of the agreement entered into between His Majesty's Government and the railway companies at the outbreak of War, together with any modifications since made?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Bridgeman)I am sending the hon. and gallant Gentleman copies of the notices issued to the Press in September, 1914, and April, 1915, which indicate the nature of the agreement for compensation between the Government and the controlled railway companies. The arrangements indicated therein have been elaborated, and to some extent modified, in the course of correspondence on particular points that have arisen, but the principle of the original agreement has not been altered except in that the companies are now allowed interest at the rate of 4 per cent. per annum on capital expenditure that has become productive during the War.
Sir J. D. REESHave not the terms of this arrangement been made public on many occasions by the chairmen of railway companies at annual meetings?