HC Deb 03 May 1897 vol 48 cc1413-4
MR. IAN MALCOLM (Suffolk, Stowmarket)

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware of the widespread discontent which exists owing to the inconvenience experienced by passengers travelling from Calais to Dover by the night boat, owing to the fact that under recent regulations registered luggage is now examined on the boat at Dover Quay with insufficient light, inadequate accommodation, and a total absence of porters to open or close the baggage; and whether, having regard to the confusion which nightly occurs, he would direct the Customs authorities at Dover to conduct: such examination either at Dover Station or at the London terminus?

* MR. HANBURY

I understand that the system now in force of examining the luggage on the boat while the mails are being lauded, instead of in London, was adopted at the suggestion of the railway Company. It saves the passengers from being detained for a quarter of an hour or 20 minutes at 5.40 a.m. at the London terminus, and the Customs officers there from having to wait up all night. The inconvenience to which the hon. Member alludes probably occurred on the morning of April 21, when the steamboat Company had not made proper arrangements to meet the return of the Easter holiday passengers. The Company has given an assurance that proper precautions shall he taken in future. It may, however, he necessary at holiday times, when there is a great rush by the night steamer, to arrange the examination in London. To examine the luggage at Dover Station would involve turning the passengers out of the tram there and delaying them for an indefinite period. There is no accommodation for such examination on the Admiralty Pier, and if the present system were abandoned, the only alternative would be to keep them waiting at the London terminus as under the old system, which, I am informed, is a much less popular arrangement.

MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)

asked whether it was the fact that other railway companies bringing passengers from Paris to London provided for the examination of the luggage in London with satisfactory results?

* MR. HANBURY

I am informed that it is the fact that the other railway companies do provide for the examination of their passengers' luggage in London, but I am told that the arrangements are not satisfactory.