HC Deb 29 January 1941 vol 368 cc549-50
33. Mr. Parker

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that during the rush hours at Liverpool Street, London and North Eastern Railway, suburban platform inspectors are on duty for the special purpose of preventing third-class passengers from entering first-class carriages, and that the doors of the latter are locked until just before the train leaves, notwithstanding the fact that the third-class carriages are overcrowded and the first-class carriages inadequately filled; and whether this procedure is in accord with the policy announced on 20th November, 1940?

Lieut.-Colonel Moore-Brabazon

The procedure is necessary to ensure that those who hold first-class tickets have first call on the available first-class accommodation. I see nothing in the procedure which is inconsistent with my announcement.

Mr. Parker

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that there is a general feeling that there are far too many first-class carriages on the railway?

Lieut.-Colonel Moore-Brabazon

I do not know that; it depends on how many first-class travellers there are. We want to stop people holding third-class tickets going on to the platform and taking a first-class seat on the basis that the train will eventually be full. That is why the doors of first-class compartments are locked until a certain time, after which third-class passengers are allowed to enter.

Mr. Silverman

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that at King's Cross Station the practice followed is to keep first-class carriages locked the whole time, to have an inspector standing outside who unlocks them separately for each passenger who produces a first-class ticket, and that the consequence is that train after train leave King's Cross in the rush hours crowded to overflowing in the third-class carriages and half empty in the first-class carriages?

Lieut.-Colonel Moore-Brabazon

They could percolate through the corridor, could they not?

Mr. Silverman

No, there is no corridor; they are separate carrages.

Lieut.-Colonel Moore-Brabazon

That would be against my instructions. I will look into the matter.

Mr. J. J. Davidson

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that the third-class passengers are the people referred to by the Prime Minister as the "backbone of the nation"?