HC Deb 02 December 1920 vol 135 cc1446-7
93. Mr. PRETYMAN

asked the Minister of Transport whether railway passengers are charged heavy rates for parcels carried by them when travelling which the servants of the company claim to be other than personal luggage; whether, notwith standing the fact that the parcel may be in the personal care of the passenger and not handled by the servants of the company, rates are enforced, particularly for short distances, greatly in excess of the fare paid by the passenger; and whether it is in accordance with Regulations issued by his Department that a lady travelling three miles by rail was charged 5½d. for her own fare and 1s. 6d. for a parcel she was carrying weighing 7½ lbs. and of the value of 3s.?

Sir R. SANDERS

Passengers are only legally entitled to take with them by train free of charge certain quantities of purely personal luggage. For any other articles the railway companies are entitled to charge the appropriate rate as in respect of parcel traffic carried by passenger train. These Regulations existed before the War, and I have no reason to suppose that the practice of the companies has been altered. I shall be glad to look into this case if the hon. and gallant Member will furnish me with particulars.

Mr. PRETYMAN

Does my hon. Friend suggest that 1s. 6d. for carrying a parcel, weighing 7½ lbs., three miles is reasonable? If any private individual made a charge of that kind, would he not be brought before the Profiteering Committee?

Sir R. SANDERS

That is not a question on which I feel competent to give an answer.