HC Deb 01 November 1920 vol 134 cc60-1W
Major MOLSON

asked the Minister of Transport if his Ministry acts as the representative and guardian of the public purse and of the community in dealing with the railway directors; whether he is satisfied that the present check is sufficiently close to prevent any betterment of the private property at the cost of the State or the users of the railways?

Sir E. GEDDES

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Islington South (Mr. Higham) on the 25th ultimo. A very strong Committee, under the chairmanship of Lord Colwyn, is now considering, among other matters, whether the additional checks which I have instituted upon railway expenditure should be still further strengthened, having regard to cost of the staff. I may add that particular care is taken by the investigators to see that betterment is not charged to revenue and such items are challenged. I am not prepared to assert that the present check is adequate. The complexity of the questions which arise and the expenditure involved, greater than the annual national expenditure before the War, renders the task one of magnitude, delicacy, and difficulty. There is ample ground for honest differences of opinion in large and small items.