§ Mr. Benjamin Smithasked the Minister of Transport (1) whether he is taking any steps to ascertain the views of the trade unions representing workers employed on the railways and in the road transport, inland waterway, and coastwise shipping services, regarding the proposals made by the railway companies for the removal of statutory regulations;
(2) whether he has considered the representations from the road transport interests on the subject of railway rates; what was the nature of the representations; and can he make a statement;
(3) whether he has considered representations from the coastwise shipping companies concerning the railway companies proposals on rate-fixing; what was the nature of the representations; and can he make a statement?
§ Mr. BurginI have received a circular on this matter from the Coastal Trade Development Council. I have referred the railway companies' proposals to the Transport Advisory Council on which labour, coastwise shipping and road transport interests are represented.
Mr. Adamsonasked the Minister of Transport whether he will indicate the results of his further consultations with the representatives of the railway companies with regard to the claims made by them for the withdrawal of legal restrictions on freightage rates?
§ Mr. Wakefieldasked the Minister of Transport what steps he proposes to take to remove the present statutory disabilities under which the railway companies are now suffering?
§ Mr. BurginI have referred the proposals of the railway companies to the Transport Advisory Council for very early consideration and advice.