§ 64. Mr. SEDDONasked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the injury done to public interests by the grant of free travel which is vested in the railway authorities; whether he is aware that this grant of free travel has extended by arrangement beyond the limit of the United Kingdom, and that this enables the railway companies to confer very valuable favours on those they are anxious to oblige; whether he will cause to be laid upon the Table of the House of Commons a full Return of the extent to which the practice of granting free travel was carried in the year 1913; whether he can state the number of journalists, Government officials, local government officials, and members of chambers of commerce who enjoyed this privilege in 1913; and whether he will make a rule for the future that no one with the exception of railway officials in the exercise of their duty shall enjoy free travel on the railways?
Sir RHYS WILLIAMSSo far as I am aware, it was not the practice of the railway companies to grant free travel to such persons as those mentioned by the hon. Member, either beyond or within the limits of the United Kingdom, and I do not therefore propose to call for the suggested Return. As regards the last part of the question, any such rule would involve interference with the customary privilege enjoyed by railway employés as a whole.