§ Captain REDMONDasked the Minister of Transport if he will issue instructions to Irish railway managers to have the system of through bookings of pigs resumed from inland stations in Ireland to stations in Great Britain; and is he aware that, although these head rates and wagon rates are in existence, Irish railway companies have refused for some years past to allow senders to take advantage of them?
§ Sir E. GEDDESI am having inquiries made in regard to the points raised and will communicate the result to the hon. and gallant Member.
§ Captain REDMONDasked the Minister of Transport if he will have the Regulation amended contained in the Railway and Canal Traffic Act, 1854, fixing the value of cattle (livestock) in transit at £15, and of pigs and sheep at £2 per head, considering the increase in present and past years in the value of these animals; and, pending the introduction of legislation, if he will set up an arbitration court, consisting of a railway official, a dealer of practical experience, and a lawyer, to determine the fair value to be paid to an owner in ease of loss?
§ Sir E. GEDDESThe question of modifying the provision of Section 7 of the Railway and Canal Traffic Act, 1854, in respect of the limits of liability of railway companies as regards livestock has already been considered by the Rates Advisory Committee, a statutory body specially set up to advise on such matters. Their re- 1445W commendations on the subject after they had held public inquiry have been taken into consideration, in framing the Railways Bill, which is to be introduced into the House at an early date.