§ 14. Sir Austin Hudsonasked the Minister of Transport whether he is yet in a position to state if he proposes to accept or reject the advice tendered to him by the permanent members of the Transport Tribunal under Section 82 of the Transport Act, 1947.
§ 17. Mr. A. Edward Daviesasked the Minister of Transport whether he is yet in a position to make a decision and announcement in respect of the Railway Rates Tribunal's proposal to increase railway freight charges.
§ Mr. BarnesA decision on this matter will be announced this week.
§ Mr. David RentonCan the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that the Transport Commission's proposal to increase freight charges is not being replaced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer's proposal to increase the petrol tax and to impose a new Purchase Tax on commercial vehicles?
§ Mr. BarnesI must ask the hon. Gentleman to await my statement.
Mr. Geoffrey WilsonDoes the Minister agree with the statement in the "Railway Gazette," that the increased Budgetary proposal with regard to petrol will cost the Transport Commission £3 million a year, which will wipe out a large part of any increase in railway fares?
§ Mr. BarnesI think that is a different point. If the hon. Gentleman wants to get the correct figures and will communicate with the Commission, I am sure they will give them to him.