HC Deb 15 February 1898 vol 53 c636
MR. HOLLAND (Tower Hamlets, Bow and Bromley)

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the inadequate service of workmen's trains on some of the Metropolitan railways; and whether the Board of Trade will exercise their powers to secure a better service of trains on such railways, and to require all the Metropolitan railways to run workmen's trains up to 8 a.m., so that the working classes may obtain the full benefit to which they are entitled under the Cheap Trains Act of 1883.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. C. T. RITCHIE,) Croydon

I assume the hon. Member has seen the Blue Book recently published on this subject, and numbered C. 8585. It gives full information as to the service of workmen's trains. Whenever it can be shewn that an additional workmen's train between stated points is necessary, the Board are prepared to use the powers conferred upon them by the Cheap Trains Act. The Board have not power, however, to-order a general increase of workmen's trains.