§ 8. Colonel W. THORNEasked the President of the Board of Trade if he has received a petition, signed by several hundred people who reside in his Parliamentary division, calling attention to the overcrowded state of trains on the District 4 Railway; if he is aware of the seriousness of the position; and if he intends taking any action in the matter?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANSeveral petitions on the subject addressed to Members of Parliament have been forwarded to my right hon. Friend, who is in communication with the railway companies concerned in the matter. The railway authorities are aware of the overcrowding, which is mainly due to the lack of sufficient rolling stock which, owing to the War, the company has been unable to obtain. Every effort is being made to provide additional equipment, but until it is received the company regret being unable to materially improve the service.
§ Colonel THORNEIs the hon. Gentleman aware that long before the War we were labouring under the same conditions in the East End of London, and that the evil is growing every day in consequence of the increased population in the East End?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANYes, Sir; but the difficulty is that the War has made it worse and not better.
§ Colonel THORNEYou are not trying to improve it either!
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANYes, we are!
13. Mr. ALFRED DAVIESasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received a report as to the conditions on the Underground and District Railways as regards overcrowding, especially during the busy hours of the day; whether scenes amounting almost to violence occur sometimes at the important junctions and that in consequence public danger is caused; and whether he proposes to take any measures to improve the facilities so that workpeople and business people can return to their homes in some degree of comfort?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANAs stated in reply to previous questions on this subject, I am aware that overcrowding occurs on underground railways to an undesirable extent. I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer already given to-day to a question by the hon. Member for Plaistow.
§ 17. Mr. GILBERTasked the President of the Board of Trade if the underground and tube railways in London are under the control of the Railway Executive Committee; and, if not, to whom complaints of passengers as to overcrowding 5 of the trains on these services should be directed with the object of securing extra passenger services on these lines?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe Metropolitan and Metropolitan District Railways are under the control of the Railway Executive Committee, but not the tube railways. The Railway Companies concerned are primarily responsible for providing necessary travelling accommodation, but as previously explained it is difficult for them under present conditions to make arrangements that are altogether satisfactory in this respect.