§ MR. HOOPER (Dudley)To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to an agreement commencing in its operation on 1st January, 1907, entered into by practically all the railway companies of England, having for its purpose the equalisation of rates and prevention of competition, but excepting from such agreement foreign traffic; and, if so, whether such an agreement will be sanctioned by the Board of Trade under the provisions of The Railway Companies Powers Act, 1864; and whether a copy of such agreement can be obtained by the Board of Trade and laid upon the Table of this House.
§ MR. KEARLEYThe Board of Trade are informed that the object of the arrangement referred to is to bring to an end a practice under which certain agents have allowed, out of the remuneration they received from the companies, rebates of varying amount to traders for the pur- 1044 pose of securing traffic. Working arrangements between companies are subject to the approval, not of the Board of Trade, but of the Railway and Canal Commission. The Board are in communication with the Railway Companies Association which represents railway companies generally with a view to obtaining information on the subject.