HC Deb 19 March 1941 vol 370 c143
15. Mr. Tinker

asked the Minister of Transport on whose authority the notices, "Not for public use," are placed on railway-carriage windows; and whether he will find out whether regard is given to ordinary travelling persons when such notices are being used?

Lieut.-Colonel Moore-Brabazon

Under certain conditions, compartments have to be set aside. When this is done, the sign, "Not for public use," is employed.

Mr. Tinker

What conditions are laid down, and to whom do they apply?

Lieut.-Colonel Moore-Brabazon

They are rather curious. The categories are: Broken windows, infectious diseases, corpses, high Service officials, lunatics, convicts and Cabinet Ministers.

Mr. Tinker

May I point out to the Minister that on Thursday last I saw three compartments of a train at Euston Station which were labelled "Not for public use," and that one of them bore the name of a lord who does not occupy any official position? Half-way on the journey, and before we reached any station, two of the labels were taken down, and it appeared to me that some kind of trickery was going on in reserving them by the use of those notices.

Lieut.-Colonel Moore-Brabazon

I will look into the matter.

Mr. Leach

How do the railway officials distinguish all those categories?