§ 25. Mr. Sorensenasked the Minister of Transport whether, for the duration of the war, he will consider arranging that all fare tickets shall be available at any time by any alternative method of travel in the London transport area; and whether he will arrange for cheap weekly season tickets to be available for the same alternatives?
§ Lieut.-Colonel Moore-BrabazonTo implement my predecessor's announcement of 8th September last, the railway companies and the London Passenger Transport Board have given instructions to their staff to allow passengers holding tickets available on services in the London area which are suspended or seriously impaired to travel by alternative road or rail services without extra payment. To avoid abuse, some discretion is allowed to the staff in the interpretation of these instructions. The effect of my hon. Friend's suggestion might well be to encourage unnecessary travel and to divert traffic from the normal services, when available, to emergency services. Both these courses must be avoided, but I can assure my hon. Friend that the matter is being closely watched.
§ Mr. SorensenIs the Minister aware that nowadays no one wants to travel unnecessarily, and, in these circumstances, does he not consider that this proposal would simplify the organisation and minimise the hardship caused to the travelling public?
§ Lieut.-Colonel Moore-BrabazonI appreciate that, but we must get the travelling public on to their normal method of travelling as much as we possibly can. The hon. Member will appreciate that it takes 22 buses to equal one train, and 14 motor cars to equal one bus. Therefore, as much as possible, we must get the people back to the trains, and when they fail, then there is always the alternative.