§ Commander BELLAIRSasked the President of the Board of Trade what in the estimated extra cost to the railways of the latest concessions in pay and hours made to the coal trade; what is the extra cost of the latest concessions made to the railway workers, giving the figures for 1919–20 and 1920–21, or other convenient 1233W periods, having regard to the time element in the concessions; and whether This cost is additional to the estimated loss on the railways of 90 to 100 millions sterling?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANMy hon. and gallant Friend will appreciate the difficulty of giving even a rough estimate of the future effect which the considerations referred to may have on the cost of working the rail ways. The figures already given are an approximate estimate of the possible loss to the State on the working of the railways during the present year.