§ 55. Mr. KELLYasked the Minister of Transport if he will state the figure which is estimated as the amount of relief to the railway companies in October, 1929, consequent on the Budget proposals; if the figure for each company has been estimated; and does it take into account railway shops and running sheds?
§ Captain Viscount CURZON (Lord of the Treasury)I have been asked to reply. As stated by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his financial statement on 24th April, the rating relief which it is proposed to accord to the railway companies is estimated at not less than £4,000,000 a year. I am not in a position to give figures for individual companies. With regard to the last part of the question, I must ask the hon. Member to await the introduction of the Bill shortly to be introduced by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health.
§ Mr. KELLYIf productive industries are the ones concerned, surely the Government must have made up its mind with regard to railway shops and sheds?
§ Viscount CURZONI cannot add anything to the answer I have given. It was reaffirmed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Budget speech and by the President of the Board of Trade.