§ Mr. W. THORNEasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that on the merging of the London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway into the Southern Railway Company, £12,800 is to be paid to two directors who will suffer loss by the abolition of their office, and that, owing to the amalgamation of the North Eastern and Great Central Railways, six directors of the Great Northern Railway will receive between them £23,657, four years' purchase of their 1922 fees, £25,000 will be shared by the retiring directors of the North Eastern 323W Railway, and that six retiring directors of the Great Central Railway also share £20,000, four years' fees, and £6,000 will be divided amongst the directors leaving the Great North of Scotland Railway; whether any of the above grants will in any way be borne by the Government; and if he will take action in the matter?
§ Lieut.-Colonel ASHLEYPower is given under Section 3 (1) (d) of the Railways Act, 1921, for the payment of compensation to directors whose office is abolished, from the assets of a company. The compensation will not in any way fall on public funds, and no action by the Government is required.