§ 47. Major GLYNasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether the powers granted to the Ministry under the Railways Act, 1921, to obtain statistics from the railway companies are to be insisted upon in view of the expense and trouble the production of such information involves upon the companies, who, having some knowledge of the management of railways, have no need for such information themselves and desire to curtail all needless expenditure?
§ Mr. NEALAs I have already reminded the hon. and gallant Member, the obligation of supplying these statistics 33 was imposed upon the companies by Parliament so recently as last year, and it is not proposed to make any change in the statutory requirements. I am unable to agree that the companies have no need for these statistics. They constitute a general guide to the efficiency of the operation of the railways and, as such, they are of service to the railway managements, which are bound to maintain statistics of this or similar nature for their own purposes. They are, in my opinion, also essential to the work of the Rates Tribunal and as a means of enabling traders and the public generally to avail themselves of their rights in regard to railway charges conferred by the Act.
§ Major GLYNWill the Minister of Transport, in view of the fact that the reorganisation of the railways is taking place, realising the difficulties of the railway companies in supplying these figures which are of no use to the companies, reconsider the details of the figures asked for?
§ Mr. NEALThe supplementary question is based on a hypothesis with which I cannot agree. The railway companies are of opinion that the figures are of great use.