§ 31. Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether he will take prompt action to secure that all omnibus companies in Scotland grant the same permission as is given in England for women omnibus conductors to sit in vacant seats in their omnibuses when their duties give them the chance of sitting down?
§ Colonel LlewellinI am informed that a woman omnibus conductor in Scotland is allowed to occupy a vacant seat in a bus in non-built up areas where the fact that she does so will not interfere with the performance of her duties.
§ Mr. KirkwoodIs the Minister aware that what he has stated is absolutely false? [Hon. Members: "Order."] It is his information, and he has been misinformed. Will he see that the women conductors have the right to a seat?
§ Colonel LlewellinWe consulted our regional transport commissioner in Scotland, and this is the information that came from him. I was not certain how it applied in Scotland when I replied a week ago to a Question of this sort, but inquiries were made, and to the best of my belief what I have said is true.
§ Mr. GallacherWhat is a conductress to do in a bus travelling for 60 miles when every seat in occupied?
§ Mr. LipsonWould it not be possible for the end seat in a bus to be reserved for the woman conductor?
§ Colonel LlewellinIt would not be right at all times in a journey for the woman conductor to sit down. Her duties are to see that the bus stops wherever there is a passenger to pick up, and in built-up areas she has normally quite enough to do between one stop and another, issuing fares either on the roof or on the floor of the bus.
§ Mr. KirkwoodWill the Minister make inquiries to ascertain whether it is not a fact that these girls are terrified to sit down? I have asked them time and again.
§ Colonel LlewellinIf my hon. Friend will give me the names of bus companies where that is happening, I will make inquiries.
§ Mr. KirkwoodEvery bus company in Scotland, including Glasgow Corporation.
§ 32. Mr. Kirkwoodasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether he will require all omnibus companies to fit in their omnibuses, wherever it is practicable to do so, a small tip-up seat or seat slung in hammock fashion for the use of omnibus conductors and conductresses, in view of 1845 the fact that small seats of this type could be put in most omnibuses and would greatly lighten the fatigue of these workers?
§ Colonel LlewellinI will communicate with the association representing operators of omnibuses on this point and will let my hon. Friend know the result.