§ Viscount Hinchingbrookeasked the Minister of Transport what applications he has received from the British Transport Commission for authorisation of an increase in railway freight charges.
§ Mr. MaclayThe Commission have drawn my attention to the actual and prospective rises in their costs due to increases in wage rates and in prices. They have applied for my authority, under Section 82 of the Transport Act, to increase existing railway freight charges by 10 per cent. subject generally to a maximum increase of 10s. per ton, charges for small parcels by goods train by about 20 per cent., charges for the carriage of returned empties by 50 per cent., dock and canal charges by 10 per cent. As required by the Act, I have sought the advice of the Permanent Members of the Transport Tribunal acting as a Consultative Committee.