HC Deb 06 March 1928 vol 161 cc301-2W
Mr. HARBORD

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport if he is aware of the practice of the English railway companies of charging prepaid rates for carriage of all fish by passenger trains, thereby inflicting additional charges upon those engaged in the fish trade; that the English fish merchants must employ more capital and are put to greater expense, being unable to obtain cheaper telegrams and give a uniform price by reason of the different railway charges for carrying fish to various places; and if he will bring pressure to bear on the English railway companies concerned in order that they shall give the same facilities as the Scottish railway companies afford to Scottish fish merchants of sending fish by all passenger trains without carriage of same being prepaid?

Colonel ASHLEY

The general practice of the railway companies is to require prepayment of charges for carriage of goods, including fish, by passenger train. I understand that the arrangement under which the Scottish railways accept fish with carriage to pay was made primarily to meet the small fishermen in the Western Highlands, and I am not aware that the English merchants and trawler owners are prejudiced thereby. I am informed that the railway companies have repeatedly reviewed the matter, but do not see their way to alter the existing regulations in view of the additions to their staff which would be required.