72. Colonel THORNEasked the President of the Board of Trade how many railway companies there were in the United Kingdom in 1918 and the number in 1895, how many boards, and how many directors; and if he can state whether the larger railways have boards over the Carriage Audit Secretaries and Rates Departments?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThere were approximately 300 railway companies in existence in 1895 and 240 in 1918. I cannot give the number of directors. A few of the larger companies have separate audit committees, but this does not involve the appointment of separate boards. I am not aware of any separate boards appointed to deal with the other departments mentioned.