§ 41. Mr. Boothbyasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether travellers holding third- class tickets are entitled to use first-class carriages if no seating accommodation in the third-class is available?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerThe instructions issued to railway staff are that, when third-class accommodation on a train is seriously overcrowded, third-class passengers may be allowed to occupy first-class seats without extra charge. It is, however, necessary to have some regard to the requirements of passengers holding first-class tickets who may join the train later in its journey.
§ Mr. Austin HopkinsonIs it not a fact that this is a democratic country and that to nine-tenths of the population democracy means travelling first with a third-class, ticket?
§ Mr. BoothbyWho is to decide what is serious overcrowding?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerThat is left to the discretion of the competent railway officials who are charged with administering the instruction.
§ Mr. ThorneIs not the best solution to wipe out first-class travelling altogether?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerI said a day or two ago, in reply to a Question, that I think the reasons" in favour of the retention of first-class accommodation still hold good.
§ Mr. DribergIs it correct that a third-class passenger cannot enter a first-class carriage without permission from the guard or ticket collector?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerA third-class passenger has no prerogative right to a first-class seat without permission of the competent official. That is the only possible system, and I think the officials are doing very well.