§ 25 and 26. Mr. David Jonesasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) to what extent the estimate of £50 million of loans to the British Transport Commission, as shown on page 28 of Financial Statement 134, has taken into account the effect of the recent wage settlement between the 176W British Transport Commission and the railway unions;
(2) whether the figure of £52 million shown on page 28 of Financial Statement 134 as loan to the British Transport Commission is for the same annual period as the financial return of the British Transport Commission, up to December, 1956.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftThe figure of £50 million was based on the best provisional estimate the British Transport Commission was able to make of its deficit on British Railways revenue account in the calendar year 1957, taking account of improvements in wages and all other factors. The figure of £52 million relates to the advance in the financial year 1956–57 which was in respect of the deficit on British Railways in the calendar year 1956.