§ Mr. REESasked whether any relief in the rating of railway companies is contemplated; and whether underground companies which relieve street traffic are to be rated in future for the benefit of competitors who wear out roads and add to congestion of traffic, and to the expenses of repairing and widening streets?
§ Mr. BURNSThe Government are not at present contemplating any legislation upon the subject of the rating of railway companies.
§ Mr. REESMay I ask whether the rating of railways in general, and of underground railways in particular, is not inequitable as compared with that on other kinds of property?
§ Mr. BURNSThat is a matter of opinion. The suggestion implied in the question is that railway companies are differentially treated, and the hon. Member suggests that owners of vehicles do not contribute. But I may inform him that both tramway companies and municipal authorities which own tramways contribute very substantially to local rates and to the maintenance not only of their own track, but of a certain portion of the road on either side of the track.
§ Mr. BURNSOnly in the same way as the authorities I have named contribute to the rates in respect of their property.