§ 10. Sir ALFRED BIRDasked the Minister of Transport if he has arrived at an agreement with the London and North-Western and the Great Western Railway Companies for the continuance of inter-availability of season and ordinary return tickets between London, Birmingham, and Wolverhampton?
§ Sir E. GEDDESThe inter-availability of ordinary return tickets is a matter which I am still taking up with the railway companies. The inter-availability of season tickets is another thing. During the War, in order to ameliorate the hardships caused by the serious curtailment of passenger services, the holders of season tickets were given the additional facility of availability of other routes. Now that the passenger service has been so greatly improved, the reason for the concession has gone, and the season ticket, which has almost become a zone ticket for a considerable area of the country, and therefore of a very much greater value in equity to other users of the railway, ought to revert to its pre-War position. If alternative routes are desired they ought to be paid for. Hon. Members will appreciate that under existing circumstances concessions with a money value to one class of user have to be paid for by the other users.
§ Mr. REMERIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the services have not got well up to the pre-War standard, and that there is a strong feeling amongst the public that they ought to have an adequate service to enable them to conduct their business?