§ 59. Mr. GALLACHERasked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the complaints by associations of commercial travellers concerning the conditions under which week-end tickets, daily voucher tickets, bull travelling tickets, and other special tern tickets are issued without any responsibility being accepted by the railway companies for injury, loss, damage, or delay; and whether it is his intention to take up this question with the four main railway companies?
§ 63. Mr. KENNEDYasked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that passengers using British railways are in certain cases assumed to have entered into a contract under which they have no legal right to claim compensation for loss, injury, damage, or delay, however caused; and if, as road passenger transport companies are by Statute prevented from contracting out of their liabilities in this way, he will take any steps to remove this anomaly and injustice to the travelling public?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAWhile I have no legal powers in this matter, I am drawing the attention of the railway companies to the many representations I received. In the meantime, the main line railway companies have informed me that, excluding workmen, they have decided to apply this limitation in future only to passengers holding cheap day, half-day or evening tickets.
§ Mr. GARRO-JONESWill the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to take another look at the Railways Act, 1921, and ascertain whether he has the power to apply to the Tribunal to rectify these grievances?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAI will, certainly.
§ Mr. MACLAYMay I ask my right hon. Friend whether this does not apply in the same way to hon. Members of this House?
Mr. STEPHENSWill the right hon. Gentleman consult with his Government and ask them to give facilities for the passage of the Bill which I introduced in a previous Session?