§ MR. JOHN ELLIS (Nottinghamshire, Rushcliffe)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Trade whether the attention of the Board has been called to the growing practice of railway companies of substituting for carriages with compartments of six or more seats and two side doors affording prompt means of exit, long carriages with a narrow corridor with a much smaller proportion of, and, in some cases, no side doors, the result being impossibility of quick exit, and, in case of accident, consequent danger to the passengers; and whether it is proposed to take any steps in the matter in the interests of public safety.
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY TO THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. BONAR LAW, Glasgow, Black-friars)The Board of Trade are aware that the use of corridor carriages with few or no side doors is increasing on railways, but no accident is known to have occurred, or to have been aggra-ated through the absence of side doors. It may be pointed out that in the case of most tube railways no use could be made of side doors, if provided, in the event of an accident occurring in the tube. The Board of Trade do not as at present advised consider any action to be necessary, but the whole question will be carefully watched.