§ Mr. ROWLANDSasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade whether he can say what system is adopted with regard to the inspection of the weighbridges in use on the railways; how often they are tested; and what facilities the person sending goods has to check the weights charged against him?
Mr. TENNANTWeighing machines in use on railways for the purpose of trade are subject to stamping and testing under the Weights and Measures Acts. The regulations made under those Acts provide that it is the duty of a local authority to arrange for all instruments in use for trade in its district to be inspected at least once a year, except in special cases, where such period may, with the sanction of the Board of Trade, have been extended to not more than two years. I am not aware that persons sending goods have 801 any special facilities for the purpose of enabling them to check the weights charged against them other than by the use of their own machines or of public weighing instruments where available.