55 & 61. Colonel NEWMANasked the Minister of Transport (1) whether, as the result of economies and improvements effected by the Ministry of Transport in the working of the railways, together with the increased charges made for fares and rates, he will say what proportion of the railway agreements and transport subsidies, estimated at the beginning of the year at £26,000,000, he will be able to hand back to the Treasury;
(2) whether, in the event of the estimated yearly deficiency on the working of the railways as from 1st April, 1920, and amounting to £54,500,000, being made good by increases in rates and fares, the estimated deficiency in railway working for the current financial year amounting to £23,000,000 to be borne by the taxpayer will be cancelled, or is it the fact that the actual loss on the working of the railways amounts to £77,500,000, which sum will have to be found by the tax payer and users of the railways conjointly?
§ Sir E. GEDDESI would refer the hon. and gallant Member to Cmd. Paper 815. I cannot trace the item of £26,000,000 in the Estimates. The sum of £23,000,000 provided in the Estimate for the railway agreements covers the amounts required in respect of deferred liabilities for arrears of maintenance and renewal work accumulated in earlier 1943 years, and other items, and has no connection with current working, but is an instalment on account of the large outstanding liabilities under the agreements recently brought to the notice of the House.