§ 23. Mr. STURROCKasked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that season ticket holders on local railway services in Scotland are, under recently-imposed regulations, subjected to inconvenience and delay by being compelled to show their season tickets to railway officials as often as six or twelve times a day; and whether, in view of this system of checking being not only financially burdensome to the railway companies, but the cause of serious delay to railway patrons, he can state the reason for the continuance of this War-time practice?
§ Sir E. GEDDESThe more stringent examination of tickets by the railway companies throughout the country is rendered necessary in order to prevent fraud, which, I regret to say, is still too prevalent.
§ Mr. STURROCKIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that on these branch 14 lines every passenger is known to the local officials, and that this vexatious and irritating system leads to very great delay and must be extremely burdensome to the companies; and will he not see if some modified regulation can be issued?
§ Sir E. GEDDESThe only modified regulation that one could issue would be that when a passenger was supposed to be honest he need not be asked to show his ticket. That would create a discrimination which I am not prepared to recommend.