§ 53. Mr. KEELINGasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that a notice accompanying the vouchers for railway tickets issued to Members requests them to ask for cheap day-tickets whenever possible, in order to save expense to the taxpayer, and that such tickets are endorsed with the condition that passengers using them are 231 carried at their own risk in the case of injury; and whether, in the interests of the dependants of any Member who may be killed while travelling to or from his constituency, he will arrange either for the request to be withdrawn or for Members to be freed from the condition?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. W. S. Morrison)I am aware of the facts to which my hon. Friend refers, but I fear that it would not be possible to ask the railway companies to treat Members of Parliament differently from other users of cheap tickets. I should point out that the use of such tickets by hon. Members is not obligatory, but at the same time I do not think it unreasonable that they should be asked to avail themselves of travelling facilities at reduced rates when the charge falls on public funds.
§ Mr. BOOTHBYDoes not my right hon. Friend think that the time has now come when hon. Members of this House ought to be issued free passes over all railways?