§ 15. Brigadier - General Sir OWEN THOMASasked the Minister of Transport whether he will consider the immediate restoration of pre-War special facilities to the annual excursions of Sunday schools, seeing that otherwise the only outing enjoyed by a large number of children, especially town-dwelling children, will have again to be abandoned, these facilities to include special trains and reduced fares both to scholars, who in Wales include a number of adults as well as children, and their teachers?
§ Sir E. GEDDESThe railway companies are granting (in so far as their traffic position permits) reduced fare facilities in connection with the annual day outings for recognised school treats, subject to certain conditions of which I am sending a copy to the hon. and gallant Member. It may not be possible to meet all applications for special trains, and I regret that it is not possible to extend the concession of cheap fares to parties of adults.
§ Mr. INSKIPIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that only one adult is allowed to every 12 children at the reduced fare, and that this makes it impossible for children to be properly controlled, and, therefore, for many of these Sunday-school excursions to be carried out? Could not at least two adults be allowed to every 12 children?
§ Sir E. GEDDESI think my hon. and learned Friend is misinformed. It is 10 per cent. of adults, and, so far as I am advised one adult to 10 children should prove sufficient.
§ Mr. INSKIPHas the right hon. Gentleman any experience of Sunday-school treats?
§ Sir E. GEDDESMany years ago.
§ 18. Mr. T. A. LEWISasked the Minister of Transport whether he can see his way to reconsider his decision to grant reduced railway fares to only 10 per cent. of adults accompanying Sunday-school children on their annual day excursion trip to the seaside, and whether he is aware that this percentage of adults is inadequate to superintend the safety of the children?
§ Sir E. GEDDESExcursion tickets are suspended, and in the circumstances I regret that I see no justification for making any alteration in the conditions laid down in regard to the number of adults who may travel at reduced fares when they accompany Sunday school children on their annual outing. I have no reason to suppose that a greater proportion of adults are in ordinary circumstances required to take proper care of the children.
§ Mr. LEWISIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this 10 per cent. will mean that tens of thousands of children in the mining areas of South Wales will be unable to visit the seaside this year?
§ Sir E. GEDDESNo, Sir, I am not aware of that. As I have already stated in reply to my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Bristsl (Mr. Inskip), I am told that one adult to 10 children is sufficient.
§ Mr. LEWISDid not the right hon. Gentleman also say that he had not attended a Sunday-school treat for many years?