HC Deb 30 September 1942 vol 383 cc760-1
35. Mr. Murray

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether, in the light of further information supplied to him, he is now prepared to give instructions for the issue of priority passes to members of local authorities and approved persons on business who reside at intermediate points on omnibus routes so as to enable them to attend the various meetings of their respective authorities and generally attend to their public duties?

Mr. Noel-Baker

I am looking into the specific cases which my hon. Friend has just sent me, and I will write to him about them as soon as possible.

Mr. Murray

Will my hon. Friend bear in mind when making this inquiry that many of these men have to get up between two and three o'clock in the morning and stand in queues for as long as three-quarters of an hour while seven or eight buses pass them before they are picked up? These men not only give their services to the local government but do their ordinary work in the mines.

Mr. Noel-Baker

I am most anxious to make it possible for these men to do their public work as well as their other work, but it is a complicated matter, and each case has to be dealt with on its merits.