HC Deb 10 February 1953 vol 511 cc364-5

The Railways Act, 1921. s. 39

1. Section thirty-nine of the Railways Act. 1921, shall extend to all charges made or to he made by the Commission for the carriage of merchandise by railway (other than standard charges and maximum charges) and not merely to agreed charges and exceptional rates made or charged by them, and the said section thirty-nine shall, with the necessary adaptations, have effect accordingly.

2. The said section thirty-nine, in relation to the Commission, shall have effect as if after the words "canals," in both places where that word occurs, there were inserted the words "or canal carriers."—[Mr. Lennox-Boyd.]

Brought up, and read the First time.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I beg to move, "That the Schedule be read a Second time."

I made, I fear, at somewhat great length this afternoon a considerable speech on the various Amendments that we have introduced in regard to the charging provisions of this Bill. At that time, I said that the whole of the new Schedule would, in fact, fall for discussion during our debate. There is, I am advised, no important part of this Schedule to which some reference was not made in the course of my speech and subsequent speeches, and I do not think there is anything I can add at this stage in commending the Schedule to the House.

I would only say, as we are nearing the conclusion of the Report stage, how glad I am that it has fallen to me to be able to sponsor in Parliament that part of this Measure which, I think, redeems a debt we all owe to the British Railway system and which will, I hope, put them in a better competitive position. All the Amendments which have been moved, will, we believe, add value to the very substantial improvement in the railways' competitive position which the Bill was designed to achieve.

Schedule read a Second time, and added to the Bill.

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