§ 104. Mr. ROBINSONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has official information showing the approximate cost of running a railway-dining car per 100 miles; and whether, in the interests of economy, he will now take steps to stop the running of these cars?
§ Mr. PRETYMANI am unable to give the figures asked for by my hon. Friend, but I understand that it is doubtful whether any real economy would be effected by the withdrawal of those dining cars which still remain in service.
§ Mr. ROBINSONMay I ask if the Ministry of Munitions have not sent a requisition to the Board of Trade to try and prohibit as far as possible the use of engine power and whether this would not lead to economy in engine power?
§ Mr. PRETYMANNo, Sir, it would not. That is the purport of my answer.
§ Mr. PRINGLECan the hon. Gentleman say why it is economical for the Midland Railway Company to run dining cars and not for the London and North Western Railway Company?
§ Mr. PRETYMANI do not think that necessarily need be an impossible proposition. The railways which go to the North are to a certain extent interchangeable and you do not necessarily want dining cars on them all.