HC Deb 02 December 1942 vol 385 cc1144-5
35. Major Lyons

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he has yet decided to suspend the Order prohibiting a service of tramcars on Sunday mornings in the city of Leicester; and whether, in view of the representations made and the interests involved, he will order the maintenance of such a service and a discontinuance so far as may be necessary, of omnibus and tramcar services in the evenings?

Mr. Nod-Baker

No formal Order has been made on this subject, and my Noble Friend sees no objection to the provision of tramway services on Sunday mornings, where such services are reasonably required, and where they can be provided without creating operational difficulties. The discontinuance of evening omnibus and tramcar services would cause hardship on Service personnel and on workers who visit their families at week-ends, and for that reason I cannot accept my hon. and gallant Friend's proposal. The position in Leicester is being reviewed, and I will inform my hon. and gallant Friend of the result as soon as possible.

Major Lyons

In view of the number of times this matter has already been discussed with the hon. Gentleman's Department can he now say that the trams will run next Sunday morning, because the difficulties which he has envisaged never existed until the transport controller came down with this Order?

Mr. Noel-Baker

Of course, the difficulties to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers arise from the necessity of restricting transport owing to the present fuel and rubber situation. I can make no promise that the trams will run next Sunday. On the contrary, I am afraid it will be impossible to arrange that. There are very considerable difficulties involved.

Major Lyons

Owing to the unsatisfactory nature of that reply, and the complete reversal of the programme of the Ministry, and the fact that rubber and petrol do not enter into the consideration of this matter, I beg to give him notice that if the trams do not run shortly I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment at an early date.