86. Lieut.-Commander Clark Hutchisonasked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that firms in Edinburgh have recently received notices from the Railway Executive (Scottish Region) that charges for the letting of storage space in sheds, warehouses and open spaces in yards are to be increased as from the term of Whitsunday, 1948; and in view of the fact that this position is in direct conflict with paragraph 8 of the White Paper on Personal Incomes, Costs and Prices, Command Paper No. 7321, he will use his powers under Section 4 of the Transport Act, 1947, and direct the Transport Commission to stop the raising of such charges throughout the country.
§ Mr. BarnesThe decision to make these increases in charges was taken by the Railway Companies with my concurrence in the autumn of last year, in connection with the raising of the general level of railway charges from 1st October, 1947. The increases have not been announced previously owing to the need for detailed examination of the charges and the preparation of notices to tenants. The answer to the second part of the Question is "No."