HC Deb 08 May 1918 vol 105 cc2163-8
Sir HENRY DALZIEL

(by Private Notice) asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of his promise to make a statement with regard to further restrictions upon railway travelling, and as the Board of Trade Vote will not now be taken to-morrow, he can give any information to the House upon this important subject?

Sir A. STANLEY

I apologise to the House for the unusual length of the reply.

I am glad to have the opportunity of explaining to the House the steps which I have felt that it was necessary to take in connection with the question of reducing further the travelling on railways.

I have had frequent conferences with members of the Railway Executive Committee, and, after a most exhaustive examination, and bearing in view the fact that the steps which I have felt bound to take will impose very severe burdens on large sections of the public, I provided for an addition to be made to the Defence of the Realm Regulation 7B, enabling the Board of Trade to make Orders with a view to meeting the present railway situation. This addition was made on the 27th April, and the House has no doubt seen the terms of it in the Press.

Under this amended Regulation powers are given to prescribe conditions on which tickets of all kinds may be issued and passengers carried, and enabling the railway companies to refuse to accept goods for carriage where other means of transport exist.

I should like to explain that in addition to the very heavy demands which have been made upon the railways for locomotives, rolling stock, materials, and men for military purposes, and the fact that, owing to a shortage of labour, and material, it has been impossible for the railway companies to maintain the whole of their remaining rolling stock in efficient order, there is another fact to which I wish to draw special attention, namely, that the mass of traffic, both Government and civilian, and both passenger and goods, with which the railways have had to cope has increased enormously. Further, the recent demands of our Allies have thrown on to the railways a very large amount of goods traffic which is normally carried coastwise. There is also need to economise in the consumption of coal by the railways. I do not wish to trouble the House with a mass of figures, but I may mention that while the 50 per cent. increase in passenger fares which was imposed at the beginning of 1917 had for a time the effect of reducing ordinary passenger traffic, this effect eventually disappeared, and the railways are now carrying more passengers, independent of military traffic on warrants, than at any other time in their history. The traffic on military warrants is, roundly, 3,000,000 passengers a month. As regards goods traffic, from information supplied to me by the Railway Executive Committee, it appears that, if traffic carried on Government account was included, the revenue in 1917 would have been, roundly, £5,000,000, as against £64,000,000 in 1913—the heaviest year in the railway companies' history. This means an increase of more than 48 per cent. Notwithstanding the increased traffic, both passenger and goods, the available rolling stock is very considerably less than prior to the War. To meet the situation, and to provide locomotives for essential goods traffic, it is necessary to reduce the passenger steam train services by 40 per cent. The number of passengers carried must, therefore, be reduced.

I, therefore, propose to authorise the Railway Executive Committee to take the following steps immediately with the hope that they will secure the desired result:

  1. (1) To discontinue the issue or renewal of all season tickets which are issued at special reduced rates, except scholars', apprentices', and privilege season tickets issued by the railway companies to their employés. This will cover the issue or renewal of season tickets at specially low rates to members of the family of a season-ticket holder, of which a large number are now in force.
  2. (2) To discontinue the issue of new season or trader's tickets, which are applied for the first time, between London and places situated outside a radius of twelve miles from Charing Cross, except in cases where it is shown that travelling is necessitated by reasons of national-importance.
  3. (3) To discontinue the renewal of any season or trader's ticket between London and places situated outside a radius of twelve miles from Charing Cross which were taken out for the first time since the 1st January, 1917, except, again, where travelling is necessitated by reasons of national importance, and generally in cases in which the holder is bonâ fide a resident, although only a recent one.
  4. (4) To discontinue the issue of season tickets for periods of less than six months in cases in which the tickets cover journeys over twelve miles, and the applicants do not already hold season tickets.
  5. (5) To discontinue giving refunds in respect of season tickets which have not expired, and which the holder desires to surrender to the company, in return for an allowance for the unexpired period. This proposal will not apply in the case of the death of the holder of the ticket, or in the case of the holder being called up for Government service, and follows on the proposal that season tickets for distances over twelve miles shall not be issued for periods of less than six months.
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  6. (6) To increase the price of season tickets by 10 per cent. in the case of tickets covering distances up to twelve miles, and 20 per cent. in the case of tickets covering distances of over twelve miles.
These measures will be seen to apply to season tickets, and I would explain that the number of season tickets which have been taken out since the beginning of 1917 have very largely increased, and is, no doubt, largely attributable to the fact that the 50 per cent. increase in fares did not apply to season tickets. This has made it cheaper in many cases for people to take out season tickets rather than, as formerly, to pay the ordinary fare. Having once taken out the season tickets, they were able to take any number of additional journeys without additional cost. An increase in season-ticket rates is justified not only as a measure to restrict travelling of the kind I have indicated, but also as a financial measure, as calculations show that under present conditions season-ticket traffic is being carried by the railways at a loss.

I would here mention that the grant of war wages and bonus to railway employés since the War have reached the figure of about £47,000,000 a year. It will be my endeavour to ensure that, however onerous the measures taken may be to the public, they will be applied as evenly and fairly all round as possible, and I am considering the question of arranging for the administration, by a committee, of the measures affecting the issue of season tickets.

I trust that the House and the public will understand that the steps which I have endeavoured to explain have been taken only under the force of direct necessity.

Sir H. DALZIEL

Are we to understand that the powers which the right hon. Gentleman has taken are to be put into force at once, or is he taking more powers than he intends to enforce immediately? Will there be an opportunity, if the House desires it, to discuss these restrictions?

Sir A. STANLEY

The railway situation is such that I have no alternative but to authorise the railway companies to give immediate effect to the season-ticket restrictions.

Sir J. JARDINE

Will a specific exception be made in the case of Members coming up to attend sittings of this House as a matter of national importance?

Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL

Does the right hon. Gentleman intend to take any other measures besides restrictions on season tickets? Does he estimate that they will effect the reduction of 40 per cent. of which he spoke?

Sir A. STANLEY

It would be impossible for me or anybody else to forecast with any degree of accuracy what the effect of these restrictions will be, but we feel that these steps must be taken at once. They are taken with the hope that they will secure the desired result. I am sure the public will not expect in the circumstances that they should be able to travel with the same degree of comfort that they enjoyed before the War. We are establishing this restriction with that object in view. It is quite clear for some considerable time the public will have to submit to considerable inconvenience. I can only say I am hopeful that these restrictions will produce the desired effect. It may be necessary to establish other restricted areas besides London, as the need develops, but I will give a guarantee that before any other restrictions of a drastic kind are made I will indicate them to the House.

Mr. CHANCELLOR

As goods delivery in London is now a monopoly for which extortionate prices are charged, and as the new Regulations will strengthen the monopoly, will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to fix the rates to be charged in London by those who have the monopoly?

Sir A. STANLEY

I am not prepared to indicate at this moment what steps will be taken in regard to charges. If I gave any indication it would be that the charges must take an upward direction.

Sir J. D. REES

Is it clear that the cancelling of the renewal of season tickets will not apply to the large class of business men living more than twelve miles from Charing Cross who have to come to London every day on business?

Sir A. STANLEY

Not provided they were taken out prior to 1st January, 1917, or if they have established bonâ-fide residence since that date.

Mr. G. FABER

Considering the large sacrifices the public has now to endure, will the right hon. Gentleman say if railway directors are still to enjoy the privilege of travelling first class on all railways without payment?

Sir A. STANLEY

I doubt if I have any power to interfere with the travelling of railway directors, and I cannot believe that even if that privilege were withdrawn it would have the slightest effect.

Colonel WEDGWOOD

Sense of justice!

Mr. GILBERT

Will the right hon. Gentleman's new rules as regards season tickets apply only to London and twelve miles around or to season tickets issued all over the country?

Sir A. STANLEY

The restrictions on season tickets apply to those which have been issued in a radius beyond twelve miles of Charing Cross and not within twelve miles of Charing Cross. They are to be confined for the moment to the-London area only, but later, if necessary, we shall have to create other restricted areas as well.

Sir P. MAGNUS

Has the right hon. Gentleman considered the advisability, in the interests of economy, of abolishing all second-class railway fares?

Mr. SPEAKER

Further questions had, I think, better 'be put down.