§ 41. Mr. John MacLeodasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the present time limit fixed by him under Section 76 of the Transport Act, 1947, for the submission of a railway charges scheme by the British Transport Com- mission to the Transport Tribunal.
§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd6th August, 1955, Sir.
§ Mr. MacLeodThe Minister will appreciate that his reply was rather unexpected and very welcome. Does he realise that this question of freight charges and charges generally—certainly in the Highland area—is becoming impossible and that it is hoped that these charges will prove satisfactory?
§ Mr. Ernest DaviesIs it not a fact that a charges scheme would have long ago been introduced if the Commission had not been interfered with by the 1953 Act?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydAnswering the last supplementary question first, I am certain that the charges scheme, because of the 1953 Act, will give more local autonomy than otherwise would have been possible. In reply to my hon. Friend, and in addition to what I have said, as he knows, the Commission have assured me that it hopes to produce a railway freight charges scheme very early, and well before the date that I have given in my answer.