§ Captain FULLERasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if Palestine still has the use, free of payment, of the main railway line constructed by the British Army during the War; and to what extent its earning capacity has contributed to the revenue in the last five years?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThe main military railway line in Palestine, with equipment, was purchased by the Government of Palestine from His Majesty's Government in 1927 for £1,000,000; the cost being 'met out of the2014W Guaranteed Loan of £4,500,000. In 1928 the surplus of gross revenue over working expenses on this line was £141,000. In 1929, when interest charges on the capital cost became payable, the surplus decreased to £28,000. In the years 1930, 1931 and 1932, there have been deficits of £2,000, £50,000 and £48,000 respectively.