§ 40. Mr. DAYasked the Minister of Transport whether the attention of the railway companies has recently been drawn to the desirability of working electricity instead of gas for lighting purposes on all main lines and express trains; whether he proposes to make any immediate prohibition of gas as illumination in railway carriages; and can he state the present proportion of railway rolling stock that is illuminated with the gas system?
§ The MINISTER of TRANSPORT (Mr. Herbert Morrison)I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on the 11th March by the Lord Privy Seal to the right hon. Member for Chorley (Mr. Hacking), of which I am sending him a copy. The latest available statistics show that of the total coaching stock provided with lighting facilities, 27,192 vehicles or 44 per cent. were lighted by gas at the 31st December, 1929, compared with 47 per cent. at the 31st December, 1928. Included in the figure of 27,192 are 5,211 non-passenger carrying vehicles. Details will be included in the next issue of the annual "Railway Returns" which will be published shortly.
§ Mr. DAYIs my hon. Friend satisfied that the replacement of this gas illuminated stock is taking place with all necessary speed?
§ Mr. MORRISONI should not like to say that I am ever satisfied, but I think the railway companies are making genuine attempts to re-equip, particularly in connection with new rolling stock; and I do not think the position is such that I ought to try to bring immediate coercive powers to bear on the railway companies.
§ Colonel ASHLEYNo new stock is being equipped with gas?
§ Mr. MORRISONI understand that is so.
§ Mr. C. WILLIAMSCan the hon. Gentleman tell me about how long it 394 will be before the railway companies have completely equipped their rolling stock with electricity?
§ Mr. MORRISONNo.
§ Mr. DAYCan my hon. Friend say whether negotiations are still taking place between his Department and the railway companies to see that all new stock has electric lighting?
§ Mr. MORRISONSpeaking from memory, I think that all new stock is equipped electrically, and from time to time I bring all the healthy pressure that I can to bear upon the railway companies to accelerate the conversion of existing stock, and I am not satisfied that the railway companies are not acting perfectly bona fide in the conversion of their stock as quickly as they can.
§ Mr. WALLHEADHas the Minister any powers to enforce the use of electricity in the case of new rolling stock?
§ Mr. MORRISONI should require notice of that question. I fancy that there are some powers, but what the powers are I could not tell the House without notice.