§ 29. Sir I. Alberyasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether any kind of seating arrangements are provided for women motor-omnibus conductors?
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport (Colonel Llewellin)As a rule, no special seating arrangements are provided for women omnibus conductors; in general there is no room to construct a seat on the platform of a bus. A conductress is, however, allowed to occupy a vacant seat in the bus provided that using it does not interfere with the execution of her duties.
§ Sir I. AlberyIs my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that many of these bus conductresses seem to be unaware of that?
§ Colonel LlewellinPerhaps my hon. Friend's Question will have given the necessary publicity.
§ Miss Eleanor RathboneIs my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that fatigue caused by unaccustomed duties is causing absenteeism among women bus conductresses, and cannot he give attention to the subject with a view to seeing that some device can be introduced to lessen fatigue and improve the efficiency of women conductors?
§ Colonel LlewellinI quite appreciate that, but it is difficult, as everybody knows who has travelled on a bus, to put an extra seat on the platform. This 1200 privilege or right given to the conductresses to sit down when there is a vacant seat will, I think, very largely meet the case.
§ Mr. KirkwoodCan the right hon. and gallant Gentleman tell us if that applies to Scotland also?
§ Colonel LlewellinI do not think it does.