§ Mr. TILLETTasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the overloading of trains, omnibuses, and tramcars in the London area and the danger of accident from the overloading of such vehicles, the unhygienic results of such overloading, the creation of unemployment by the use of less vehicles than the amount of traffic warrants, and the hardships suffered by the attendants of such vehicles; and whether he will take the necessary steps to remove the cause of these complaints?
§ Mr. SHORTTI have no authority with regard to railways, but I am informed by the Ministry of Transport that such overcrowding as occurs on the railways takes place during peak load periods, and arises almost entirely from the physical impossibility of operating more trains over certain congested portions of the lines, and not from lack of rolling stock. The railway companies realise, of course, the undesirability of overcrowding, but considerable expenditure is involved to increase the capacity of the lines by electrification or other means. With regard to omnibuses and trams, the question whether the concession in respect of carrying excess passengers should cease or not is now under the consideration of the Commissioner of Police.