§ MR. CHARLES DEVLIN (Galway)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether any investigation into the rates charged by Irish railway companies for the transit of goods has recently taken place, and, if so, what was the result of such investigation; whether he is aware that preferential rates to Ireland are extended to British and other manufacturers, thus enabling them to undersell the Irish manufacturers, while no preferential rates from Ireland are extended; whether his attention has been called to the rates of charges for the carriage of the smallest parcels in Ireland and their effects upon all classes of the community; and if he will state what steps he proposes taking to remedy this condition of affairs.
MR. BRYCENo formal inquiry into Irish railway rates has recently been held, but information on the subject is being constantly collected by the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction, and inquiries are made by the Department into all complaints respecting railway rates which they may receive. Information on the subject will be found in the Department's fourth and fifth Annual Reports. There are numerous exceptional through rates for manufactured articles between Great Britain and Ireland, but no instance has come under notice in which these rates do not apply in both directions. The rates charged by railway companies for the carriage of small parcels by passenger trains are regulated in each case by the company's special Act. The Department has, however, been instrumental in having included in several recent Acts provisions limiting the charges for such parcels to half the maximum rates for ordinary parcels traffic by passenger trains. I may call the hon. Member's attention to the reductions in parcels post charges which were stated by my right hon. friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday, as tending to alleviate the evil complained of; and I may add that the whole question of Irish railways is receiving my consideration.
§ MR. CHARLES DEVLINIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the rates charged on Irish railways are higher than those charged in other countries?
§ MR. CHARLES DEVLINI will give it.