§ 62. Mr. Thorneasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport, whether he has considered the representations made by the borough council of Southall and the Southall Trades Council and endorsed by many other county borough councils, asking for the hours during which workmen's fares are issued to be extended until 8.30 a.m., and that such fares be made applicable to all types of vehicles within the area and under the control of the London Passenger Transport Board: and what action he intends taking about the matter?
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport (Mr. Noel-Baker)I have considered the representations to which my hon. Friend refers, but I regret that I do not think it wise to modify the present practice. If workmen's tickets were issued up to 8.30 a.m. in the London area, they would be used by many people who now take season and ordinary tickets, and the purpose of the specially low fare allowed on workmen's tickets would thus be defeated. The change might also cause passengers who now travel before 8 a.m. to travel later, and might thus lead to still greater pressure on services which at their loading peak are already heavily over-taxed. As I explained to my hon. Friend the Member for West Leyton (Mr. Sorensen) on 18th March last, the extension of workmen's tickets to London Transport omnibuses would divert traffic to those omnibuses, and would thus lead to a demand for additional vehicles and staff, and to an increased consumption of motor fuel and tyres. For these reasons, I regret that I do not feel able to agree to such a change.