§ 2.51 p.m.
§ LORD CHORLEYMy Lords, I beg leave 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 they will impress upon the London Transport Board the need to provide a sufficiency of seats in those of the Underground stations where there arc interconnections of Tube services.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT (LORD CHESHAM)My Lords, this is a matter of management, within the sphere of responsibility of the London Transport Board, of a kind in which the Government do not normally intervene. I understand, however, from the Board that any request for additional seats at specific Underground stations would be sympathetically considered by them.
§ LORD CHORLEYMy Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for his reply, so far as it goes. I wonder whether he realises that at an important junction like Oxford Circus there is on each of the platforms seating for only about a dozen people. Does he not think that this is altogether inadequate for people who have been working hard all day and have to wait for trains to come in? Will he not bring a little more pressure to bear than he has so far?
§ LORD CHESHAMMy Lords, I was not aware of that, because I do not think it is the Government's job to be aware of it. It is a matter of management for the Board. But I am sure the Board will be glad to receive any suggestion the noble Lord may care to make to them.
§ LORD STONHAMMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that at many of these busy stations it is not a question of seats to sit on, but very often a question of not enough room to stand on the platform?
§ LORD CHESHAMMy Lords, I think the original Question referred to seats.