§ 8. Lieutenant-Colonel W. GUINNESSasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give the estimated loss to the State of working the railways after crediting them with the cost of the transport of troops and all other work for the public service worked out on the same rates as those in force for the general public?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANMaximum charges for the conveyance of troops and naval and military stores are fixed by the Cheap Trains Act, 1883, and no estimate has been made of the cost of the carriage of State traffic at the charges applying to the general public.
§ Lieutenant-Colonel GUINNESSHas not the transport of troops actually taken up a lot of rolling-stock to the exclusion of traffic at more paying rates; and cannot the hon. Gentleman, with a view to giving a satisfactory basis of judging the effect of such control, give an estimate of what would be the financial result if the work of the public services were charged at the usual and more profitable rate?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI think it will be possible to make such an estimate some time, but at present I do not think it can be done.
§ Lieutenant-Colonel GUINNESSIf the Government can estimate the net value, does it not show they are in possession of the figures as to the total Government work, and can he not use those figures to give the corresponding estimate at the normal rates?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANAs I said, we hope very much to use those figures, but I cannot give them myself.
§ Lieutenant-Colonel GUINNESSWill the hon. Gentleman give us the figures if I put down a further question?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANIf they are available.
§ Brigadier-General CROFTAs the right hon. Gentleman, in introducing the Ways and Communications Bill, stated that there was a definite loss, surely he can give the actual figures?
§ Lieutenant-Colonel GUINNESSDoes the hon. Gentleman not see that figures based on carrying soldiers at a different rate from the general public is grossly misleading, and is it his object that in future the Ministry of Ways and Communications should be able to claim credit for something to which it is not entitled?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANOf course, I see there is a great deal of difference. The only difficulty is that we should require a staff of people to be kept fully occupied to get elaborate figures like these.