§ Mr. DEVLINasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that large numbers of workers in Belfast are compelled to live in Portadown, Lisburn, Lurgan, Bangor, and other centres upwards of twenty miles from Belfast, owing to the lack of housing accommodation in that city; and whether, in view of the long distances travelled and the increased cost on the railways, he will, as Controller of Railways, order special fares to be issued to these workers?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANMy right hon. Friend is not in a position to take the action suggested. The grant of specially reduced fares could not well be confined to a particular locality, and in present circumstances it would not be practicable to make a general concession of the kind.
§ Mr. DEVLINasked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he is aware that the workman's ticket on English and Scottish railways has not been increased as has been done by the Belfast railways; whether he is aware that between Clydebank and Glasgow, a distance of 7 miles, the fare is 1s.; between Glasgow and Alexandria, 17 miles, 2s.; and Sunderland and Newcastle-on-Tyne, 14 miles, 2s.; whether these fares are much lower than the fares on the Belfast railways over similar distances; and whether, in view of the fact that the Belfast railways are paying good dividends, he will, as Railway Controller, order similar cheap fares for workmen on these lines?
(2) Whether he is now in a position to make any statement as to the result of his communications with the Belfast railway companies on the matter of the increased workmen's fares; whether he is aware that the workmen travelling by workmen's trains from Bangor are, as a result of the new increase, compelled to pay one third-class return journey per day, an amount which is much in excess of that paid by the second-class ticket holders, who, in addition to paying less, have the privilege of travelling this journey as often as they may each day; that the workman now pays £10 8s. per annum third-class, while the second-class 1686W ticket costs only £9 18s. per annum; and whether he will, in view of these facts, take action to remedy the grievance complained of?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANAs I pointed out in the reply which I gave to the question on this subject which the hon. Gentleman asked on the 10th March, it is not quite correct to say that workmen's fares in the Belfast district have been increased. I will, however, look into the matter further with a view to ascertaining whether there is in any way in which the grievance complained of could be met.