§ Mr. STEVENSasked the Minister of Transport whether the same inquiries in regard to the revision of railway rates and charges were made to the railway companies as were made to the traders and whether they were made at the same 1429W time; whether the railway companies were asked to send in their replies at the same time as the traders so that the railway companies might not have the undue advantage of considering the traders' proposals before formulating their own; whether the replies of the railway companies have been received; if not, when are they due; and will those replies be made known to the traders, as the traders' replies have been made known to the railway companies, in sufficient time to enable the traders to meet and, if possible, continue to act in agreement, so that neither party may have any preferential advantage at the inquiry?
§ Sir E. GEDDESThe same inquiries with regard to the revision of railway rates and charges were addressed to the Railway Companies' Association as to the traders, and at the same time, and the same limit of time was given for reply. Replies have been received from all the associations, including the railways, and they are being printed for circulation.