45. Mr. MALONEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether he is aware of the 1787 difficulty and discomfort of travelling on omnibus and underground routes at certain hours of the day; and what steps are being taken to ensure that the public, many of whom are working in Government offices and whose work obliges them to travel at fixed hours in the morning and evening, should be provided with adequate facilities?
§ Mr. NEALAs regards services on the underground railways, I beg to refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Stratford on the 10th April, of which I am sending him a copy, and to add that the arrangement between the Trade Facilities Committee and the underground companies has for its object the improvement of travelling facilities in the London area. As to omnibus services, I am informed that an average of 282 additional vehicles are in service now compared with a year ago, which represents an increase of 11.5 per cent, (apart from the greater number of seats in the new vehicles), whereas the number of passengers carried shows an increase of only 4.2 per cent.
Mr. MALONEWill the hon. Gentleman say whether, before the grant of £5,000,000 was made, any specific guarantors were obtained with regard to such facilities, other than the extension of the City and South London Railway?
§ Mr. NEALThere is no grant under the Trade Facilities Act, but a guarantee of further capital to enable the extensions and improvements to be made, which will have the desired result.
Mr. MALONEBut are those extensions simply on one railway alone, and not on the general railways, and, in view of the fact that this loan has not been completed, will the hon. Gentleman see that complete guarantees are given for all the traffic in London?