§ 1. Mr. PETOasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the railway concessions provided for the officers of British merchant ships on taking leave will now be extended so that officers may take advantage of these concessions in purchasing first-class tickets, should they so desire, in place of third-class tickets to which they have previously been restricted?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Sir Albert Stanley)I have been in communication with the Railway Executive Committee, and I hope it will shortly be possible to allow mercantile marine officers to purchase first-class tickets at the rates in force prior to the 1st January, 1917, in the cases where at present they are given warrants enabling them to purchase third-class tickets at the old rates.