HC Deb 15 November 1939 vol 353 cc697-9
33. Mr. Hamilton Kerr

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can now arrange for some form of cheap-day tickets on the railways, in order to enable parents of evacuated children to visit them?

Captain Wallace

I am glad to say that in consultation with my right hon. Friends the Minister of Health and Secretary of State for Scotland I have been able to make arrangements under which with the necessary co-operation by the local authorities, special cheap rail facilities will be available for visits to children and others evacuated under the Government scheme. The general aim will be to provide special train facilities on Sundays at monthly intervals to reception areas where services at cheap fares are not already available and to which the return journey can be made in one day. The return fares will be at the rate of the ordinary single fare for distances up to 80 miles and for longer distances at less than that rate, so that the return fare for a place 100 miles distant will be 11s. and for a place 160 miles distant 12s. 6d.

It is essential that advance information should be available to the railways in order that adequate rail facilities should be provided and, therefore, tickets for these special trains will only be issued on production of a voucher at the railway booking office. These vouchers will be issued in the localities from which the children were evacuated under arrangements with the local authority, where also any necessary information as to the station of departure and route to be followed can be given to avoid unnecessary congestion at the railway booking offices. In order that due notice may be given to the transport authorities as to the numbers to be carried it will be necessary that the issue of vouchers shall cease eight days before the day on which the excursion will run, that is, for a train running on 3rd December a voucher must be obtained on or before 25th November. On 3rd December, special facilities will be provided from London and Edinburgh to a number of reception areas, and on succeeding Sundays other areas will be similarly served. The possibility of providing special facilities from other towns will be considered with the local authorities concerned. The special train facilities will not be available on 24th or 31st December owing to the abnormal traffic conditions at those times.

Mr. Pethick-Lawrence

Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman consider the few cases in which the distance of the children from home is greater than can be covered by the parents in a single day; and whether some special facilities might be granted to parents in those cases?

Captain Wallace

We have considered that point carefully. The right hon. Gentleman will see that it raises very great difficulties in regard to accommodation in the reception areas where the billets are already all occupied. The scheme which I have outlined is a start. I hope it will be successful and that we may be able to extend it.

Mr. Logan

In regard to the question of sickness, will cancellation of the eight days be allowed, and will the railway fare operate as the Minister suggests?

Captain Wallace

People will have to get the vouchers eight days before the journey, but, as at present advised, I do not suggest that they should pay the money until they actually go to the station.

Mr. Logan

What I am asking is whether, in cases of sickness, where parents wish to visit children who have been evacuated to a distance, it is intended to apply the same rule about the eight days?

Captain Wallace

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Health has just informed me that in necessitous cases of that kind the parents would travel free.

Mr. Mathers

The statement which we have just heard limits this concession to children who have been evacuated under the Government scheme, but the right hon. and gallant Gentleman will be aware that many children have been evacuated privately, thereby saving the Government trouble. Can he not extend this concession to those other schemes?