§ Mr. POTTSasked the Minister of Transport the invested capitalisation value of railways in the United Kingdom for each year 1914 to 1924, inclusive; the profits earned by the railways; the rate of interest paid to debenture and ordinary shareholders; the amount added annually to reserve funds; the annual increased capitalisation from reserve funds; the numbers of employ´s each year and the total wages paid to employ´es; and the total number of directors each year and the total sum paid annually As directors' fees?
§ Colonel ASHLEYSome of the particulars for which the hon. Member asks are not available, and on other points I am not clear as to his exact meaning, but. much' of the information he seeks will be found in the Annual Railway Returns for the years 1919 to 1923, which also contain the principal total figures for 1913. During the years 1914 to 1918 inclusive the issue of these returns was suspended, and the accounts of many of the railway companies for 1924 have not yet been furnished to me. I hope, however, to issue a. preliminary return about the end of this month.