§ Mr. REMERasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport 298W whether, in view of the unsatisfactory delay on the part of railway companies in reducing railway rates and in view of the great expense imposed on traders in making application to the Railway Rates Tribunal, he will consider the introduction of a small amending Bill amending the Railway Act in order to give the Minister of Transport power to make an application to this tribunal if, in his opinion, the action of the railways is prejudicial to trade?
§ Colonel ASHLEYI cannot agree that application to the Railway Rates Tribunal involves great expense to the traders or other applicants. The tribunal's rules of procedure and scale of fees have been drawn up with a view to facilitating access to its jurisdiction. Before the "appointed day" the provisions of the Railways Act, 1921, afford ample means whereby traders can bring to the determination of the tribunal questions as to railway charges. When standard charges have been fixed, the Act requires the tribunal to review the position each year, and while the Minister may direct that after the second annual review a review shall not be held in any year, no such direction may extend to a company in respect of which the Board of Trade have requested that a review shall be held. In these circumstances, I see no reason to introduce legislation to amend the Railways Act, 1921, on the lines suggested by the hon. Member.