§ Mr. TOOTILLasked the Minister of Transport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Bolton annual holidays commence on the last Friday in June; whether thousands of operatives in this district will be unable to participate in the cheap railway facilities which come into operation on 1st July; whether this fact was taken into consideration when this decision was arrived at; and whether he will make representations with the railway companies concerned in the matter with a view to these cheap railway facilities being granted to this district and so enable these operatives to enjoy the same facilities as those who will benefit on and after 1st July?
§ Mr. NEALThe railway companies are at liberty to grant cheap railway facilities whenever, in the opinion of their responsible managers, such a course would produce additional net revenue. The ability of individual companies to make such arrangements must depend upon the supplies of coal with which they find themselves on the termination of the present stoppage. No one regrets more than I do the restrictions upon travel which that stoppage has involved.