§ 32. Sir H. Webbeasked the Minister of Transport whether, in the interests of business and having regard to the restrict-tion of train services outside the rush-hours, he will arrange to reduce the period of non-availability of cheap-day tickets from the present three hours, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., to two hours, and to ensure that the railway companies in fixing the limits shall have regard to the train services rather than fix uniform times on all lines and to all stations?
§ Captain WallaceThe Railway Executive Committee have represented to me that a reduction of the period of non-availability of cheap day tickets from three hours to two would, in existing circumstances, cause overcrowding of trains during the evening peak period when regular passengers are travelling, and that it would be impracticable to introduce special modifications of the period in relation to individual lines or stations. I do not, therefore, feel justified in pressing the Committee to modify the existing limitation in the manner suggested by my hon. Friend.
§ Sir H. WebbeIs my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that owing to the withdrawal of trains and the reduction of services this three hours dead period is, in many cases, 4½ hours, and in some cases nearly five hours?
§ Captain WallaceHere again I have made a concession in response to representations from various quarters. If the situation becomes such that further concessions can be made, no one will be more pleased than I, but I have to consider the working of the railways in the interests of traffic as a whole.