§ 32. Captain RUPERT GUINNESSasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that he has made an exception as regards season-ticket rates in the case of Romford, he can see his way to grant some relief in the case of Southend-on-Sea, a town in which there are over 10,000 persons affected by this tax and where the inhabitants have been subjected, during the last three years, to exceptional hardship owing to the War?
Sir A. STANLEYNo special exception has been made in the case of Romford, which, like other places to which the distance is just over 12 miles but is counted for charging purposes as 12 miles only, is regarded as coming under the 10 per cent. increase in season-ticket rates, and not under the 20 per cent. increase. Southend-on-Sea is 36 miles distant from London, and I regret that I cannot make any special concession in the case of that town.