HC Deb 15 July 1920 vol 131 cc2597-8
77. Mr. PALMER

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can give the House the name of the railway company that has put forward a claim analogous to that of the North Eastern Railway Company, which is asserting its right to charge to the Exchequer the £50,000 paid to the Minister of Transport; and whether he will lay upon the Table the agreement of the said company made with its servant and the correspondence which has passed since 1916 between the company and the Government wherein it is contended that the payment should be met by the British taxpayer?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

The company is the Metropolitan District Railway Company, which is claiming to charge against the Government their proportion of a commuted annuity paid to their late managing director in 1916 by the group of undertakings to which that railway belongs. As the Government contention is that any payment made under the agreement is not chargeable against the Government guarantee, and is a matter for settlement between the company and its officer, I have not thought it necessary or desirable to ask for a copy of it. I ought, perhaps, to add, since the hon. Member's question might convey a different impression, that the similar payment by the North Eastern Railway to their deputy general manager was made by the company before my right hon. Friend accepted the post of Minister of Transport.

Mr. PALMER

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this payment was made when the ex-Deputy Manager was a Member of the Government and a Minister of the Crown?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

No, Sir, I am informed that that is not so.

Mr. RONALD McNEILL

in view of the fact that the company generously attempted to charge this sum to the taxpayer, may I ask whether the Government adhere to the opinion expressed by my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House that this was a matter which should not have been brought before the House?

Mr. PALMER

Does the right hon. Gentleman adhere to the strictures passed by the Leader of the House upon the hon. Gentleman opposite for having the courage to bring the matter before the House?

Mr. BONAR LAW

I am sure I never passed any strictures.

Mr. McNE1LL

Is not my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House aware that he expressed his regret that I had mentioned it?

Mr. BONAR LAW

As I understood the circumstances, and as I understand them now, they did not affect the House of Commons or the country in the least, and it was not really an improper agreement.