Mr. GUESTasked the Minister of Transport what is the estimated profit on the railways for the month of November?
§ Sir E. GEDDESI am unable at this stage to estimate accurately the result of working the railways for the month of November. As the hon. Member is aware, the deficit on the railways during October, due to the coal strike, was over £4,000,000. The dislocation and loss of traffic due to the coal strike extended into the month of November. As soon as the monthly returns are received from the railways I will forward a copy of the usual summary to the hon. Member. Altogether I estimate that the coal strike cost the country about £8,000,000 on the railways alone.