§ 50. Sir F. Sandersonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total net revenue earned by the railway companies for the year ended 3ist December, 1941, in excess of the £43,000,000 which the railway companies retain; and how he proposes to deal with the surplus?
§ Sir K. WoodEstimates of the results of the railway pool for the year 1941 are under examination, and a White Paper will be published. Any excess of net revenue over £43,000,000 will be paid into the Exchequer.
§ Sir F. SandersonWill my right hon. Friend confirm that a very substantial profit has accrued to the Treasury? Has not the Treasury's profit taken precedence over approximately £80,000,000 of shareholders' capital which receives no return on the investment, and does he consider it to be in the national interest thereby to depreciate the country's greatest single asset?
§ Sir K. WoodMy hon. Friend had better await the White Paper.