HC Deb 15 December 1943 vol 395 cc1539-40
59. Mr. Davidson

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he will consider extending the dining car or buffet facilities existing on certain Southern Railway routes to trains travelling from Scotland to London, giving particular attention to trains containing Service men and women?

Mr. Noel-Baker

The purpose of withdrawing restaurant cars was to increase the seating capacity of the trains. The question of restoring restaurant cars on some of the trains between Scotland and London was carefully and sympathetically considered at the end of October, but in every case the provision of a restaurant car would have involved a reduction in seating capacity, with the result that more passengers would have had to stand, or extra engines would have had to be provided. These services are already over- crowded, and I regret that I would not, therefore, feel justified in giving effect to my hon. Friend's suggestion.

Mr. Davidson

Will my hon. Friend keep in mind that even buffet facilities take up very little space, that the journey from Scotland to London takes up practically the whole day and that they are mostly Service men, Government representatives and business men who are on Government work who are making these journeys?

Mr. Noel-Baker

I have all these points very much in mind. I have done my best to increase railway bars and other facilities on railway stations, but I am afraid that it is really impossible to put on restaurant or even buffet cars.

Rear-Admiral Beamish

Cannot the hon. Gentleman do something on the Southern Railway?