HC Deb 25 October 1939 vol 352 c1386
38. Mr. Dobbie

asked the Minister of Transport what decision has been reached on the urgent question of the relaxation of lighting restrictions in railway shunting yards and signal boxes?

Captain Wallace

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on 18th October to my hon. Friend the Member for Abingdon (Sir R. Glyn) on the subject of lighting in shunting yards. With regard to the lighting of signal boxes, no specific cases of difficulty had been brought to my notice until I received the hon. Member's letter yesterday. I am having inquiries made immediately into all the cases he has cited.

Mr. Dobbie

While thanking the Minister for his reply, may I ask, in view of the fact that he has had the question before him some time and of the fact that accidents, fatal and otherwise, are increasing in shunting yards and that the strain on the men in signal boxes is considerably increased, whether he can do something to expedite the inquiry?

Captain Wallace

We are expediting it by every means we can. Nobody is keener than I am that the extra strain on all classes of railway employés should be relieved as soon as and as much as possible. I am sure that the hon. Member will be the first to recognise that there are important considerations to take into account before making alterations in the black-out.

Mr. Dobbie

Now we have an assurance that the inquiry is being expedited, can we have an assurance that the decision will be expedited?

Captain Wallace

As much as possible.