§ 34. Mr. Evelyn Walkdenasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether the London and North Eastern Railway Company notified him of their intention to convert certain pre-war third-class coaches into first-class carriages; whether he is aware that a 2284 large amount of this type of rolling stock, with the addition of antimacassars and carpets, is now re-labelled as first-class and offered as accommodation for first-class passengers; and will he put an end to this practice?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerThe coaches to which my hon. Friend refers have only one door at each end of the corridor side. This makes it possible to provide better lighting in the black-out. When white lighting was authorised in 1940 for main line trains, the London and North Eastern Railway had not enough first-class coaches of this type to meet their needs; they therefore adapted a few new third-class coaches and used them as first-class accommodation. I do not think I should be justified in asking the company to reconvert these carriages to third-class, since to do so would involve using other first-class stock which could not be so adequately lighted.
§ Mr. WalkdenIs there any real reason to continue this sort of camouflage, which only encourages more and more people to try to obtain first-class privileges? Will the hon. Gentleman now consider advising the railways to abolish the sale of first-class tickets altogether? [HON. MEMBERS: "No."] Why not?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerThat is a different question, but if the hon. Member will put it on the Paper, I will answer it.