§ Mr. A. V. ALEXANDERasked the Minister of Transport under what Act the Ipswich Dock Commissioners are enabled to levy a flat-rate duty of 1s. per ton on every ton of coal arriving in the borough of Ipswich by railway; whether he is aware that this action is causing considerable dissatisfaction and annoyance to local merchants and to the ultimate consumers of coal in the neighbourhood; and whether he will take up the matter with the dock commissioners concerned with a view to arriving at a satisfactory settlement?
§ Colonel ASHLEYSection 52 of the Ipswich Dock Act, 1852, authorises the Dock Commissioners to levy a duty of 1s. and a further duty of 6d. for every 763W ton of coals imported or landed within the River Orwell or the town of Ipswich or the harbour thereof, or otherwise brought or delivered within the limits of the Act. I am not aware of the local dissatisfaction to which the hon. Member refers, but I am arranging for a copy of his question to be sent to the Dock Commissioners.