§ MR. TOMLINSONasked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether the Board of Trade is the proper public authority to carry out the recommendations, numbered 4, of the Select Committee on Railways (Rates and Fares); whether the Board of Trade, or any other public authority, will provide that, during this Session, attention will be directed, on the application by a Rail-way undertaking for Parliamentary powers to the proposed, and, in the case of an existing Company, to the existing rates or fares, with a view to their consideration by the Committee; and, whether any provision has been made, or will be made, for giving persons affected by such rates or fares a locus standi before such Committee?
§ MR. CHAMBERLAINSir, this matter is regulated by Standing Order No. 90 of the House of Lords, which provides that no Bill under the powers of which maximum rates for the conveyance of passengers, goods, and animals are increased shall be read a second time until a Report of the Board of Trade in reference to it has been laid on the Table of that House. In accordance with that Standing Order, it is the practice of the Board of Trade to make a Report to the House of Lords; but I am not aware that any practical consequences have resulted from such Report. There is no such Standing Order in this House. As regards the latter part of the Question, that is rather a matter, for the Authorities of the House, and I am not able to give the hon. Member the information he desires.