71. Colonel NEWMANasked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the Rates Advisory Committee is composed of members nominated by himself or other Government Departments and is designed to stand between the travelling and trading public and their right to have matters of vital importance to themselves decided on the floor of the House; and will he consent to a member being added to the Committee nominated by the Middle Classes Union and Association of Commercial Travellers?
§ Mr. NEALThe Rates Advisory Committee, in its functions and composition, was determined by Section 21, Sub-section 1, of the Ministry of Transport Act, 1919, and it was in every sense the creation of the House. It is not open to me to adopt the suggestion contained in the second part of the hon. and gallant Member's question. I do not, however, agree with the description of the Committee's functions as indicated in the first part of the question, and I do not think that any Committee has more fully commanded the general confidence of the travelling and trading community.