1. Lieutenant-Colonel GUINNESSasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give the estimated annual 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 on the same rates as those in force to the general public?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Bridgeman)I am afraid the Board of Trade have not the information necessary to enable an estimate of this kind to be made. The rates and fares in force to the general public do not apply to Government traffic.
Lieutenant-Colonel GUINNESSHave the Government got figures showing the volume of traffic carried for the Gov- 2468 ernment, and are we to understand if they have not that the previous estimate was a mere guess figure?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANNo, Sir. The difficulty of getting these figures is that under the Cheap Trains Act the arrangement is to allow passenger traffic for the Government at the rate of about two-thirds of other passenger traffic, and as regards the goods traffic the rate is 2d. a ton, or the present rate, whichever is the lowest, and as there are over a million different rates it is quite impossible to make an exact calculation.
§ Major LLOYD-GREAMEIs it not giving an absolutely erroneous impression to the House to base estimates on the cost of the railways without taking into consideration what would have been the freights had the ordinary charges been made?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI do not know that it was made without taking that into consideration. We cannot calculate as far as goods traffic alone with any accuracy.
§ Major LLOYD-GREAMEDoes the hon. Gentleman suggest that the deficit of one hundred millions was made without taking into consideration such a basis?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI did not make the calculation and I cannot say.
6. Lieutenant-Colonel Sir FREDERICK HALLasked the President of the Board or Trade whether, in arriving at an estimated loss of £100,000,000 a year for working the railways under State control, the accounts of the various companies had been credited with the cost of carrying troops, stores, and other articles on precisely the same terms as would be charged to other passengers and merchants; if not, what is the difference in the rates and charges, and what would it have amounted to during the years 1917 and 1918, separately?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANAs I have previously explained, the sum mentioned is the loss which, under certain conditions, the State might have to bear during the present year in respect of railway working.
No estimate has been framed of the cost of carrying Government traffic at rates and fares chargeable to the public, as such rates and fares are not applicable to Government traffic.