§ 43 and 44. Mr. OAKLEYasked the Minister of Transport (1) the number of days the Court of the Tribunal has sat since it was established under the Railways Act, 1921; and the approximate date when the schedules of standard charges under the same Act are to take effect;
(2) what progress has been made by the Railway Rates Tribunal under the Railways Act, 1921, in dealing with the standard revenue of the railway companies, and the schedule of standard charges for goods and passengers under the Railways Act, 1921?
§ The MINISTER of TRANSPORT (Colonel Ashley)The Court of the Railway Rates Tribunal has sat in public 2093 on 139 days. The members of the Tribunal have also had many private meetings and have acted as members of the Bates Advisory Committee in determining the future classification of merchandise and for other purposes. I understand that the Tribunal has practically completed the determination of the standard revenue of the amalgamated railway companies, but they have not yet fixed the date when the schedules of standard charges, which have yet to be settled, will come into operation. Full particulars of the Tribunal proceedings are given in the annual reports which are laid before this House.