§ Sir WILLIAM DAVISONasked the President of the Board of Trade what is the estimated loss or profit on the railways of the country during the past year after credit has been given for the carriage of Government orders at current commercial rates, including the transport of troops at ordinary passenger rates?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI am afraid I cannot add to the answer given on the 14th April last to a question on this subject asked by the hon. and gallant Member for Dulwich (Lieut.-Colonel Sir F. Hall), of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.
Mr. A. T. DAVIESasked the President of the Board of Trade if the aggregate loss on the working of the railways under the administration of the Railway Executive are greater or less for the half-year ending 24th June, 1919, than in the corresponding half-year in 1918; and will he state the amount of the loss approximately or otherwise?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANOwing more particularly to the increased cost of labour there is, I think, no doubt that the net revenue of the railways under control will be less for the first six months of this year than for the corresponding period of 1918, but I am not in a position to give the figures.