HC Deb 07 April 1943 vol 388 cc606-7
35. Mr. Ralph Etherton

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he will consider the issue of weekly rail season tickets at a rate not exceeding six times the old cheap day rail fares?

36. Mr. Hewlett

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether, in order to meet the needs of regular daily travellers who previously used cheap day return tickets, he will arrange for the issue of weekly season tickets on railways wherever there is a demand?

Mr. Noel-Baker

I am grateful to my hon. Friends for this opportunity of reminding the public that in many parts of the country the railways have issued weekly season tickets, and of adding that arrangements will be made for the issue of such tickets wherever there is a demand. I regret that it would not be practicable to fix season ticket charges on the basis of the old cheap day fares. Season tickets provide unlimited travel for seven days a week, and are based on a statutory scale which gives a decreasing rate per mile as distance increases. Cheap day tickets were issued between certain places only and the hours of availability were often limited, while the fares were based on a rate per mile which did not vary with distance, although it differed in various' parts of the country. Except for short distances (up to about six miles), the rate per mile for a weekly season ticket, calculated on six return journeys only, is generally less than the rate per mile previously charged for a cheap day ticket, and the comparison is even more in favour of the season ticket when, as often happens, it is used for more than six return journeys a week.

Mr. Etherton

In view of the public discontent, will the hon. Gentleman do his best to make the public aware of the concession that he has indicated and bear in mind that inequalities and anomalies still exist in respect to journeys of under six miles, particularly in view of the short hours for which workmen's tickets are available?

Mr. Noel-Baker

I hope the Question and answer will serve the purpose the hon. Member has in view.