§ 62. Mr. PETOasked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is with the approval of the Government that the railway companies have suspended all weekend and excursion trains and fares, thus depriving the poorer part of the population of the means of getting into the country, while the companies still find it possible and profitable to run race specials at cheap fares; and whether he will see that, so long as the railways are under Government control, the needs and convenience of the poor should have preference over those of the racing public?
Mr. ROBERTSONThe Railway Executive Committee have been obliged to withdraw most of the cheap booking facilities on the various railways owing to the abnormal conditions of transport due to the War. As was explained on 22nd February, in reply to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for the East Division of Edinburgh, cheap bookings for race meetings have also been discontinued and tickets are only issued at ordinary fares or at special fares in excess of the ordinary fares. I am aware of no deviation from this practice.