§ SIR MAURICE LEVY (Leicestershire, Loughborough)To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the fact that several railway companies have recently curtailed the hours during which they collect and deliver goods conveyed by passenger trains, thereby imposing upon traders the necessity of carting part of then-own traffic; and whether he proposes to take any steps to prevent these railway companies thus indirectly raising the charges to traders of goods conveyed by passenger train.
(Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) My attention has not been called to this matter, but if my hon. friend will furnish me with particulars of the alterations to which he refers I will consider whether I can usefully communicate with the companies concerned. The collection and delivery of goods are not services which 367 railway companies are under any statutory obligation to perform.