§ Mr. PEARCEasked the President of the Board of Trade if he was aware that the proposed schedule of rates for the Port of London did not observe the assurances given by the Government in the House of Commons as to the insignificant scale contemplated by the Bill, in the aggregate 2s. on the £100 value, and on the contrary that heavy duties were proposed amounting in certain cases to 1 per cent. of the value of the goods; and would he undertake that, before this schedule was approved by the Board of Trade, it should conform in specific items in reasonable degree to the limitations in the Bill as to aggregate value?
Mr. BUXTONAn inquiry is now being held by Lord St. Aldwyn on behalf of the Board of Trade as to the schedule of maximum rates proposed by the Port Authority. Until I have received and considered the report of that inquiry I shall not be in a position to come to any decision on the matter. The schedule 845 now under consideration refers solely to maximum powers of charge on any given commodity and not to actual rates. But I may point out to my hon. Friend that nothing therein can affect the specific limitation of aggregate revenue from rates on goods which is imposed by Section 13 (3) of the Port of London Act.
§ Mr. PEARCEMay I ask whether the fact that there is an inquiry does not override the statutory powers of the Board of Trade, or, to put it another way, does the fact that there is an inquiry override the statutory powers of the Board of Trade?
Mr. BUXTONCertainly not, The inquiry is to arrive at the facts and the suggestions made. In no case can it possibly override the statutory provisions of the Act in regard to maximum rates generally.