HC Deb 18 June 1900 vol 84 cc289-91
MR. TREVELYAN (Yorkshire, W.E., Elland)

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the intention of the railway companies, in some cases already put into practice, of enforcing charges for passengers' luggage when exceeding a low maximum weight; and whether in view of the inconvenience to the travelling public, especially at holiday times, and of the hardship to people of small means, the Board of Trade will undertake to make suggestions to the railway companies with a view to inducing them to discontinue or largely modify their charges.

The following questions also appeared on the Paper:—

SIR CAMERON GULL (Devonshire, Barnstaple)

To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the joint notice recently issued by the railway companies stating that from 1st May passengers are to be allowed only the following quantity of personal luggage free, namely—first class, 120 lb.; second class, 100 lb.; third class, 60 lb.; and that any excess will be charged for; and whether in view of the fact that under their statutes several companies, either on the whole or on certain parts of their systems, are bound to allow a greater quantity of luggage free, he will take steps to see that these companies do not continue to make these charges, and will require them to display in a prominent place in their stations the amount of free luggage to which each class of passenger is entitled on the various sections of their lines, and the charges which are to be made for any excess.

SIR CAMERON GULL

To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that though passengers on the South Eastern and Chatham Railway are entitled to 120 lb. free luggage first class and 100 lb. second class, the company is charging, as regards its through Continental traffic, 6d. each package for registration, and 1s. 1d. for each 10 lb. or part of 10 lb. over 96 lb., while if a bicycle is carried it is not only charged for separately, but is also weighed in with the passenger's luggage and charged for again; and whether, if this is so, he will communicate with the company with the view of putting an end to such charges.

MR. RITCHIE

I will answer the questions of the hon. Members for the Barnstaple Division of Devonshire and the Elland Division of Yorkshire at the same time. Although the Board of Trade have no power to regulate the amount of or charges for passengers' luggage they are very sensible of the importance of the question and of the confusion and irritation which will certainly arise as soon as the holiday season commences. The Board will therefore at once communicate with the Railway Association on the subject. The Department will also address a letter to the South Eastern Company upon the special point affecting that company which has been raised by the hon. Baronet.