9 and 11. Brigadier Clarkeasked the Secretary of State for War (1) how adjustment is carried out between his Department and nationalised railways for stores lost in transit;
(2) what exact sum was credited to his Department for stores and supplies lost in transit on the nationalised railways in 1948.
§ Mr. StracheySince 1945, losses of War Department stores on the railways have been paid for by means of a percentage rebate on the War Department's railway accounts. In the calendar year 1948, the rebate amounted to £11,895.
Brigadier ClarkeDoes the right hon. Gentleman not realise that that is quite different from the answer he gave me the other day, in which he said that both before and since nationalisation stores lost were charged to the railways? In point of fact, this is a concession, and there is no charge at all.
§ Mr. StracheyIf I may say so, it is a different answer because it is a different question. However, it makes substantially the same point: that the cost of these lost stores falls on the railways and not on the War Department.