HC Deb 03 March 1952 vol 497 c19
16. Mr. Frederick Peart

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make regulations under Section 82 of the Transport Act, 1947, to provide for special railway freight charges for the Development Area of West Cumberland.

Mr. Maclay

No, Sir. I do not think that it would be practicable to deal with this matter by regulations under Section 82 of the Transport Act. The issues involved are appropriate for consideration in connection with the Charges Scheme which will, in due course, govern railway rates. In the meantime, any question of reducing the basic rates to and from a particular area is one for the British Transport Commission and, in certain circumstances, for the Transport Tribunal.

Mr. Peart

Will the Minister reconsider this if I send him a memorandum on it, in view of our special geographical difficulties and the fact that West Cumberland is in a special category, being a Development Area?

Mr. Maclay

I will certainly study the memorandum.

Mr. W. M. F. Vane

Will my hon. Friend bear in mind that there are other parts of Cumberland, besides the constituency of the hon. Member opposite, which find these railway charges very onerous, and will he consider the North-West of England as a whole?

Mr. Maclay

In addition to Cumberland, there is the whole of the South-West area and Scotland.