§ 4. Mr. D. Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for War if he will consider making a grant to extend to at least 25 per cent. the 14 per cent. reduction offered by the Railway Executive in the standard return fares for relations attending the unveiling of the Runnymede Memorial.
§ Mr. GriffithsIs the Minister aware of the great disatisfaction in the country about this? Is this the best which either his Department or the Chancellor can do to alleviate the distress where parents and widows are unable to make the train journey to pay their last respects at the unveiling to the memory of their lost children?
§ Mr. HeadThe Imperial War Graves Commission approached the Railway Executive and a reduction of 14 per cent. 1931 was given. In addition, there are facilities for cheap fares and day returns. Under the circumstances, after considerable thought, the War Graves Commission did not feel they were justified in asking for an increase over the 14 per cent. rebate which was given.
§ Mr. GriffithsMay I not appeal to the Minister to make further approaches in this respect and to see if something more cannot be done?
§ Mr. HeadI can assure the hon. Gentleman that these matters arise very frequently. If a rebate as high as suggested were to be given in such a large number of cases, it would be asking a great deal of the Railway Executive.
§ Mr. ManuelDoes not the Minister think it completely wrong to rest the basis of his case on an appeal to the Railway Executive to do something instead of standing on his own feet and, through his own Department, giving the necessary relief?
§ Mr. HeadI am prepared to try to stand on my own feet in these matters, but it is the Railway Executive who have to give the reduction unless some direct subsidy is given, which is not contemplated at the moment. I would point out that for this ceremony in most cases the day return fare gives a reduction well in excess of 14 per cent.