§ Sir THOMAS ESMONDEasked the amount granted for railway construction by Parliament in the United Kingdom within the past fifty years?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSESo far as I am aware, no contribution has been made from the Exchequer towards the construction of any railway in England or Wales except under the Light Railways Act, 1896. That Act authorises the advance by the Treasury of a sum which is not at any one time to exceed £1,000,000, of which a sum not exceeding £250,000 was for the purpose of special advances under Section 5. The amount advanced under that Section is £117,945 by way of free Grant and £22,200 by way of loan, in addition to which £73,913 has been conditionally promised by way of free Grant and £16,000 by way of loan. Under the West Highland Railway Guarantee Act, 1896, the Treasury guarantees interest at 3 per cent, on £260,000 capital for thirty years from the opening of the line, and has up to date paid £26,411 under the guarantee. The amount granted for railway construction by Parliament in Ireland within the past fifty years has been £1,760,733, but in addition the maximum annual contribution for which the Treasury is liable in respect of railways constructed under the Tramways and Public Companies (Ireland) Act, 1883, is £30,722. A statement of the sums actually paid will be found in the Appendix to the Report of the Commissioners of Public Works, Ireland. The above statement does not include loans made by the Public Works Loan Commissioners for railways and subsequently remitted, or loans under Section 4 of the Light Railways Act, 1896.