§ Mr. HIGHAMasked the Minister of Transport whether he will recommend to the Committee on Railway Agreements now sitting under the chairmanship of Lord Colwyn that their meetings should in future be held in public, and that as a result the Press would be able to inform the public day by day as to the evidence placed before that Committee, particularly in view of the fact that, owing to this present high fares and rates, the general public have a definite interest in the matter?
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§ Sir E. GEDDESThe matter is entirely one for the Committee itself to decide, and I do not think it is desirable that I should make any recommendation on the subject. The Committee have a great public duty to perform, and a detailed consideration of the problems would not necessarily be facilitated by a day-to-day discussion in public. I have already stated that from a personal and departmental point of view I would welcome the fullest publicity consistent with the public interest.
§ Mr. SIMMasked the Minister of Transport whether the agreements with the railway companies as to the adjustment of stores is to the effect that the Government should replace the railway stores at their 1913 level in 1921, without any additional cost to the railway companies due to rise in prices; and, if so, why the railway companies should be so specially favoured?
§ Sir E. GEDDESSubstantially, the effect of the agreement is as the hon. Member suggests. Its terms are set out on page 23 of Command Paper 654. This arrangement is one of the questions which is engaging the attention of Lord, Colwyn's Committee, and in the circumstances the hon. Member will no doubt not expect me to express any opinion upon it until the Committee has reported.