HC Deb 14 May 1934 vol 289 cc1451-2
39. Mr. MACQUISTEN

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he will modify the arrangement with the chair contractor for the Royal parks, whereby the rental was increased by £10,000 per annum and he was permitted to raise the charge by 100 per cent. above the previous charge, by surrendering such portion of the rent increase as will enable the contractor to reduce the charge for the upright wood and iron chairs to 1d. while maintaining the charge of ad. for the more comfortable canvas chairs?

Mr. ORMSBY-GORE

The question of reverting to the original charge for ordinary chairs has been considered, but I am afraid that this could only be done at a cost more than the equivalent of the rents at present received under the licence. This is due to the fact that, while the canvas chairs are not only more expensive to buy and to maintain, but they form only a relatively small proportion of the total stock of chairs. I may point out that the increase in rent to which my hon. Friend refers was only £3,500 per annum.

Mr. MACQUISTEN

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the charge has been raised 600 per cent.? Before the War you could take a penny ticket in the morning and it was good for the day. Now you have to take a 2d. ticket in the morning, a 2d. ticket in the afternoon, and a 2d. ticket in the evening? I have one of the tickets here.

Sir WILLIAM DAVISON

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider whether it is possible to issue tickets for the morning, or for an hour or two at a reduced charge of one penny?