§ Mr. Holmesasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport in what circumstances are the railway companies prepared to accepts £5 notes in payment for tickets; under what authority a booking clerk is entitled to refuse such a note unless the passenger signs his name and address on the back and produces his National Registration Identity Card; and whether he has anything to add to his answer on this matter given to the hon. Member for Harwich on 9th June last.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerInstructions have been issued to railway staffs to the effect that, unless there is reason to doubt their genuineness, or unless the change required is not available, bank notes tendered in payment for fares or carriage charges may be accepted if their value approximates to the amount of the fares or carriage charges, thus reducing change to a minimum. As my hon. Friend will be aware, the Bank of England £5 note is legal tender in payment only of an amount of £5 or over and change cannot be demanded as a matter of right, if it be tendered for payment of a smaller sum. The instructions provide that under ordinary conditions notes should not be accepted if the amount of change required is appreciably in excess of £1.