§ MR. WHITEHEAD (Essex, S.E.)To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many times during the ten years expiring 31st December, 1907, the Board of Trade has, without holding any preliminary inquiry, referred to the Railway Commissioners a demand for the provision of workmen's trains under The Cheap Trains Act, 1883; and in how many of such cases have the Railway Commissioners ordered a railway company to provide such trains.
(Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George) Twenty-seven complaints under The Cheap Trains Act, 1883, have been referred to the Railway and Canal Commission at the request of the railway company concerned during the ten years ended on the 31st December last, and in two of these cases the Commission have, I understand, made an order on the railway company concerned. In more than half the remaining oases concessions were made by the railway companies, as the result of which the 319 application has been withdrawn or not proceeded with.
§ MR. WHITEHEADTo ask the President of the Board of Trade how many inquiries have been held by the Board of Trade during the ten years expiring 31st December, 1907, with reference to the provision of workmen's trains; in how many such cases the Board has made an Order requiring a railway company to provide such trains; how many appeals there have been from such orders to the Railway Commissioners; and in how many cases such orders have been rescinded or varied by the Commissioners.
(Answered by Mr. Lloyd George.) Fourteen public inquiries have been held by the Board of Trade under The Cheap Trains Act, 1883, during the period referred to by my hon. friend. In five of these cases increased facilities for the conveyance of workmen have been granted as a result of the inquiry, and two are still under consideration. The Board have not found it necessary to make any formal orders. In addition the Department have made inquiry by correspondence into a number of complaints of insufficient accommodation for workmen on railways, and in nearly half of these cases the railway companies have met the complainants to some extent.