§ 22. Mr. WATERSONasked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the railway companies have refused to grant facilities for reduced fares to choirs and choral associations attending choral festivals, and to delegates and students, attending educational conferences and short period schools, etc., and that the workers of the country are thereby prevented from obtaining even that educational development and recreation which they had prior to the War; and will he take steps to have this grievance removed?
§ Sir E. GEDDESI am not aware of what is stated by the hon. Member. The whole question of the issue of tickets at fares less than the ordinary has been inquired into by the Rates Advisory Committee, set up under Section 21 of the Ministry of Transport Act, 1919, whose Report has been issued as a Command Paper (Cmd. 1148). The Committee are of opinion that the issue of cheap tickets to clubs, associations and pleasure parties may well be left to the commercial discretion of the companies, where- their responsible managers are of opinion that such a grant would produce additional net revenue. I have accepted the recommendation of the Committee in this matter, and am in communication with the railway companies as to giving effect thereto. I am encouraging them to do so wherever additional revenue will result.