§ Mr. HANNONasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, with reference to the provision of £33,485,000, set forth on page 23 of the Estimates of Unclassified Services, 1922–23, this amount covers the complete discharge of the liabilities of the State in respect of the Railway and Canal War Agreement?
§ Mr. NEALI have been asked to reply Certain defined liabilities of the Government are excepted from the general discharge given by Section 11 of the Railways Act, 1921, and among them is the making good of any deficiency in net receipts (including interest on capital) up to the end of the period of possession. It is improbable that the examination of the railway companies' claims will be completed by the end of the financial year 1922–23, and it is impossible for me to forecast at this date on which side the balance disclosed on final adjustment will lie, or whether it will be necessary to ask Parliament to vote any further sum.