§ Mr. Ridleyasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport the gross railway traffic receipts for the present year at the most recently recorded date?
§ Colonel LlewellinA return showing the gross railway traffic receipts for the present calendar year will be issued as soon after its conclusion as possible.
§ Mr. Ridleyasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport what was the average cost per ton to 1962W railway companies of steel rails, coal and sleepers at the outbreak of the war, or the nearest available date, and at the most recently available date in 1941?
§ Colonel LlewellinI am making inquiries and will let my hon. Friend know the result.
§ Mr. Ridleyasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport what amounts have been paid to the railway companies in 1939, 1940 and 1941 for Government work undertaken by them in railway workshops; and whether these amounts are included in or are additional to the declared gross railway receipts for the same periods?
§ Colonel LlewellinThe greater part of the charges raised by the railway companies against Government Departments for work done in railway workshops is for wages and materials and the payments in respect of these items are not included in gross receipts for railway workings. Payments covering workshop expenses are credited to maintenance expenditure and supervision is credited against the sums shown as
other items of receipts and expenditure included in the Pool (net)given in the estimates of pooled revenue receipts and expenses. Information as to the amounts paid by the various Departments for work done in railway shops is not. readily available, but under the new financial terms of control the net result is credited to the Government's control account.