§ 24. Mr. GILBERTasked the President of the Board of Trade whether passenger fares or goods rates on railways have been increased since 1914 in France, Holland, Belgium, and Switzerland; and, if so, can he state what the increases have been and from what dates they have been put in force?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI have not full information on these matters, but I am sending the hon. Gentleman a copy of the "Board of Trade Journal" for the 7th November last, which contains, on pages 577–8, some information regarding recent increases in railway charges abroad.
§ 25. Mr. GILBERTasked the President of the Board of Trade from what date passenger train goods rates have been increased in this country; what the percentage of increase has been on pre-war rates; what is the estimated increased receipts expected from the advances during this year; and will he state if these increases were recommended by the Railway Executive Committee, or by what authority the various railway companies made these increased charges?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANA revised scale of charges for the conveyance of parcels by passenger train was introduced on the 1st November last on the recommendation of the Railway Executive Committee, and with the concurrence of the Board of Tirade. The revision was made primarily with the view of maintaining the relation- 867 ship between the charges made by the Post Office and those made by the Railway Companies for the conveyance of parcels. Under this scale the charges are in most cases higher than the charges in force before the War, but there is no uniform percentage increase, and I cannot give an estimate of the increased railway revenue likely to be obtained.