§ Sir W. Smilesasked the Minister of War Transport whether he will allocate another passenger steamer for the service between England and Northern Ireland in the near future.
§ Mr. BarnesThe services now operated to Northern Ireland are the best that can be maintained with the vessels at present available. I am conscious of the need for additional passenger facilities, and I hope that another vessel will be put into service on the route between Stranraer and Lame at the beginning of 477W September. It is proposed that this vessel should carry only Service personnel, thereby making available on the other vessels additional accommodation for about 1,000 passengers a day. It has been found possible to release other vessels which formerly operated on the Northern Ireland Cross Channel Services, but unfortunately the amount of reconditioning which they need before they are fit for service inevitably means delay in strengthening the services to the extent that I should wish.