§ Mr. HANCOCKasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the difficuty of dealers in home-grown timber competing with foreigners to the fact that foreigners can 873W deliver timber at collieries at a cheaper rate than home dealers can, and that timber is now lying rotting in our woods owing to the railway rates; and can he take any steps to remedy this state of things?
§ Mr. NEALI have been asked to reply to this question. The hon. Member will be aware that the Minister has now no jurisdiction over railway charges, and that provision was made in the Railways Act, 1921, whereby traders can appeal to the Rates Tribunal for a modification of the present charges.