HC Deb 24 February 1948 vol 447 c1768
57. Captain John Crowder

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much interest was received in this country from dividends paid by the railways in the Argentine during 1946 and 1947.

Sir S. Cripps

Dividends and debenture interest paid in this country by British companies owning railways in the Argentine amounted to rather less than £5 million in 1946 and rather less than £3 million in 1947.

Captain Crowder

Does the Chancellor think that the surrender of all future dividends from these railways by the Chancellor to the Argentine Government justifies this new Argentine Agreement?

Sir S. Cripps

I understand that the railway shareholders settled the agreement with the Argentine Government.

Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyre

Do His Majesty's Government consider that in this case the shareholders are equivalent to the interests of this country at the present time?

Sir S. Cripps

I am not concerned with that question here; I am concerned with how much was paid by the companies in certain years.