§ Mr. LANSBURYasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the Railway Rates Advisory Committee has been appointed and, if so, whether he can state the terms of reference and the names of the individuals chosen to serve on the Committee?
§ Earl WINTERTONThe Railway Rates Advisory Committee has been appointed. It is to investigate and make recommendations on: 51W
- (1) Complaints of "undue preference "—Section 42 (2) of the Indian Railways Act;
- (2) Complaints that rates are unreasonable in themselves;
- (3) Complaints or disputes in respect of terminals—Section 46 of the Indian Railways Act;
- (4) The reasonableness or otherwise of any conditions as to packing of articles specially liable to damage in transit or liable to cause damage to other merchandise;
- (5) Complaints in respect of conditions as to packing attached to a rate; and
- (6) Complaints that railways do not fulfil their obligations to provide reasonable facilities under Section 42 (3) of the Indian Railways Act.
Sir Narasimba Sarma, lately Law Member of the Executive Council of the Governor-General, has agreed to serve on the Committee as President, and there will be two members, one representing commercial interests and one representing railway interests. The railway member will be Mr. S. D. Manson, at present Director of Traffic with the Railway Board, and it is proposed to select the commercial representative for individual investigations from panels elected or nominated by the principal commercial bodies.