§ 12. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the approximate cost of the railways built in Iraq by His Majesty's Government; what is the value of the rolling stock supplied for those railways by His Majesty's Government; whether these railways and rolling stock have been handed over to the Iraq Government or are to be handed over; whether they are to be paid for by that Government; and, if so, on what terms and under what conditions?
§ Mr. AMERYThe Iraq railways were valued in 1922 at, approximately, £3,750,000. The valuation included items of, approximately, £287,000 for locomotives, £404,000 for goods rolling stock and £186,000 for coaching stock. The ownership of the railways is still vested in. His Majesty's Government. As my right hon. Friend informed the hon. Member for Cardigan on the 16th June, the question of their future disposal is still under consideration.
§ Mr. WARDLAW-MILNEAre the figures quoted by the right hon. Gentleman of total capital value based on wartime estimates, or are they for normal times?
§ Mr. AMERYThat is a very important point. Perhaps the hon. Gentleman would put that question down.
§ 23. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many persons are employed on the Iraq railways; how many of these are British or other Europeans; and whether the railways showed a profit or loss during 1925 and to what extent?
§ Mr. AMERYThe latest available returns give the total number of persons employed on the Iraq railways, including 867 those engaged on capital works, as 9,302. Of these, 284 are classified as British (including Anglo-Indian) and other European nationals. With regard to the last part of the question, there was a surplus of revenue over expenditure for the year 1925–26 of about £23,800.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYMay I ask to whom that surplus went? Did it go to our Government or to the Iraq Government?
§ Mr. AMERYAt present the railways are the property of His Majesty's Government, and are being worked by the Iraq Government, who utilise such surplus as they can make towards the re-equipment and extension of the line.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYDoes that mean that. in the case of these railways, built with our money, we are not getting interest on the money lent. but that the Iraq Government are making what they can out of it?
§ Mr. AMERYThe Iraq Government are enabling the railways to continue functioning. The railways are seriously in need of capital, and if we are ever to make any interest or profit on our ownership of the railways we shall have to find the capital necessary for their development.
§ Sir FREDRIC WISEWhat has been the total surplus since the railways started?
§ Sir HARRY BRITTAINIs it not a fact that these railways arc not paying interest to anybody?