§ 65. Mr. MARRIOTTasked the Prime Minister whether the estimated deficit of £60,000,000 on the working of the railways for the current year was arrived at without crediting the railways with the cost of the services rendered by the railways to the Government; and whether the estimated value of these services for the year 1918 amounted to over £30,000,000?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWIn arriving at the estimated deficit referred to, allowance was made for the cost of services rendered by the railways to the Government so far as this could be estimated, in view of the changed conditions brought about by the conclusion of hostilities. It is the case that the estimated value of Government traffic in 1918 exceeded £40,000,000, and the figures will be found in the statement on railway working during the War already presented to Parliament (Cmd. 147), but I understand that it is not likely that these figures will be reached during the present year.
§ Mr. MARRIOTTMay I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that the confusion which already existed on this subject has been worse confounded by two speeches in diametrically opposite senses delivered in another place on Tuesday last?
§ Mr. MacVEAGHNothing surprising in that!
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI was not aware of that.