§ 44. Sir William Waylandasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he will approach the Southern Railway Company with the object of getting the lighting in the carriages of all the main line trains between London and Dover furnished with four lamps at the back of seats and displacing the small blue lights and centre lights which preclude any attempt at reading?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerI regret that in view of the present shortage of labour and material I should not be justified in authorising the Southern Railway to instal the lights for which my hon. Friend asks in his Question. The small blue lights are required because the white roof lights must be switched off when trains are in areas near the coast.
§ Sir W. WaylandIs the Parliamentary Secretary aware that there has been no improvement in the lighting on the Southern Railway between London and Folkestone during the last 12 months?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerIt is not so easy as on some other lines, because these trains have to run into the coastal areas. At the present time we cannot undertake a large job which would take a big quantity of material and labour.
§ Sir Herbert WilliamsIs my hon. Friend aware that the trains from Victoria to Southampton which travel along the coast for 20 miles are very well lit?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerI will inquire into that.