§ 16. Mr. GILBERTasked the Minister of Transport the number of dock and river authorities who have applied to his Department to be controlled under the Transport Act; to how many of such authorities he has authorised an increase of their tolls and charges; and if he will 1683 state approximately what those increases have been?
§ Sir E. GEDDESDefinite applications from "Dock and River Authorities" to be controlled under the Ministry of Transport Act have been received from the Port of London Authority and the Thames Conservancy. In the case of the Port of London Authority, the existing charges temporarily imposed under the Defence of the Realm Act in excess of the statutory maxima were confirmed, and in the case of the Thames Conservancy a new schedule of tolls and charges was directed. In both cases the action followed upon recommendations from the Rates Advisory Committee, and their Report, in the latter case, has been presented to Parliament. I would refer the hon. Member to the Report as regards the detailed increases for the Thames Conservancy. As regards the Port of London Authority, as a member of that body my hon. Friend has no doubt the fullest information, and will realise that to give details of the increases is entirely beyond the scope of a Parliamentary answer.