§ 21. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Minister of Transport whether he has received representations from the Traders' Coordinating Committee on Dock Charges, which committee claims to represent the great producing industries' and organised merchants' opinion of the country, drawing his attention to the serious position that has arisen in regard to the coastal shipping service as a consequence of the anticipation of the derating scheme in the case of the railways; if he is aware that coastal shipping has already been adversely affected and that serious injury will result; and what action he intends to take in the matter?
§ The MINISTER of TRANSPORT (Colonel Ashley)I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply which I gave yesterday to questions on this subject by the hon. Members for Dundee (Mr. Scrymgeour) and East Cardiff (Sir C. Kinloch-Cooke).
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYAs those questions were not reached, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he is aware of the very great losses that are being suffered already by the coastal lines; and, in view of that, will he consider this matter before the Bill finally goes through its stages in this House?
§ Colonel ASHLEYNo, Sir, I am not aware that there are substantial losses.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYBut has not the right hon. Gentleman had those losses sent to him in tabular form by the Chamber of Shipping?
§ Colonel ASHLEYYes, but those losses do not appear to be substantial.