§ 69 and 111. Mr. Ellis Smithasked (1) the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that the owners of public-service vehicles in the city of Stoke-on-Trent have been compelled drastically to reduce their services owing to the inadequate allowance of petrol, thereby causing considerable hardship to workpeople in particular and people in general; and will he give immediate instructions that sufficient petrol be allowed to enable this state of affairs to be remedied;
(2) the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that, owing to the drastic curtailment of the running of public-service vehicles in the city of Stoke-on-Trent, large numbers of workpeople are compelled to wait for unreasonably long periods for conveyance to and from work; that urgent representations have been made by the corporation, the trades council, and others to the Traffic Commissioners with no result; and will he give instructions that a reasonable service be put on at once?
§ Mr. BernaysAs a result of fuel rationing, services have had to be reduced throughout the country. The position in Stoke-on-Trent has been re-examined by the Regional Transport Commissioner in the light of the representations which have been made, and I am glad to say that substantial improvements in a number of services are to come into force to-morrow.
§ Mr. SmithAs improvements have not yet manifested themselves—[HON. MEMBERS: "To-morrow!"]—and in view of the unsatisfactory answer, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.