Lieut.-Colonel J. WARDasked the Minister of Transport whether he has given the position of the North Staffordshire Railway his further consideration as promised to the deputation from Stoke-on-Trent which recently waited upon him for the purpose of pointing out the serious disadvantages suffered by the district served by that railway by reason of the exceptionally high rates charged by them as compared with other railways carrying similar classes of goods; and, if so, what, if any, steps does he propose to take to remedy the inequalities which were clearly proved to exist before the Board of Trade's Commissioner at the Inquiry held last year at Stoke-on-Trent?
§ Mr. NEALAs the hon. Member is probably aware, a systematic revision of railway rates generally will shortly be undertaken, in the course of which rates charged by the North Staffordshire Railway will come under review. Meanwhile, my right hon. Friend the Minister is not in a position to take any special steps in connection with the Report to which the hon. Member refers.