§ LORD FORBESMy Lords, I beg to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the British Transport Commission will make available more sleeping berths on the night train between Aberdeen and King's Cross, and vice 80 versa, in view of the fact that by 7th June all second class sleeping berths on the Aberdeen to King's Cross train were fully booked for 23rd September.]
§ THE MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO (LORD MANCROFT)My Lords, I understand from the British Transport Commission that with the introduction of the winter timetable on 17th September, the service of night trains between London and Aberdeen will be reorganised and more sleeping cars provided.
§ LORD FORBESMy Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for his reply and assurance about the future, I must point out that it is unsatisfactory concerning the present, as it will be cool comfort—perhaps I should say it will cause sleepless nights—to many would-be travellers, especially in the North-East of Scotland. Surely it is a monstrous state of affairs.
§ LORD LUCAS OF CHILWORTHMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord what connection the augmenting of the sleeping car service has with the winter service? Are there more people requiring sleeping cars in winter than in summer? I should have thought it would be vice versa.
§ LORD MANCROFTMy Lords, that may well be so, but the programme is being changed when the programmes are normally changed, in order not to cause confusion. The programme also involves the construction of a considerable number of additional sleeping cars this year and next year. In 1957–58 the British Transport Commission are planning to build 105 new first-class cars, 27 composite cars and 79 second-class cars. I quite agree with my noble friend Lord Forbes that the present situation is not what it should be, but I am satisfied that increasing the number of cars is the best way of doing away with present dissatisfaction.
THE MARQUESS OF ABERDEEN AND TEMAIRMy Lords, may I point out that many Aberdeenshire people cannot get second-class sleepers, because Edinburgh applicants have the berths? That seems to me quite wrong. Why cannot the Transport Commission arrange for sleepers to join Aberdeen trains at Edinburgh, so that passengers from Edinburgh have their own sleepers?
§ LORD MANCROFTMy Lords, I will see that each of these Aberdonian representations is made to the Transport Commission.
LORD KINNAIRDMy Lords, may I ask a further supplementary question? Will the noble Lord include Dundee in these representations? I know that the situation in Dundee is that sleepers are insufficient in number, particularly second-class sleepers. The position is causing considerable inconvenience. Will the noble Lord perhaps look with favour on that suggestion?
§ LORD MANCROFTMy Lords, if we are to have a round-Scotland tour of complaints I shall be in serious difficulties, but I will make the general tenor of your Lordships' complaints known to the Transport Commission.
§ THE EARL OF DUNDEEMy Lords, would it not be a good thing if the railways could run special trains for civil servants and Members of both Houses of Parliament, so that more sleeping accommodation might be available for the general public?