§ Mr. NEWBOLDasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport if he is aware that the underground railways of London are as crowded during the normal hours of the travelling day as during the rush hours; that this is due to the action of the underground electric railway companies in reducing the number of cars per train during the normal hours, so creating an artificial state of overcrowding and obtaining economy in working at the expense of the passengers; whether he will 2142W take steps to see that passengers are provided with seating accommodation; and whether he will instruct the Law Officers to institute proceedings with a view of testing the legality of the action of the companies in so overcrowding their trains?
§ Colonel ASHLEYI am not aware that the underground railways of London are as crowded during the normal hours of the travelling day as they are during the busy periods in the morning and the evening. My information is that the London Electric Railway Company are doing what they can to reduce overcrowding, and I cannot take any such steps as the hon. Member contemplates in the last part of his question. If, however, he has specially in mind any particular cases in which avoidable overcrowding is frequent, I should be glad if he would furnish me with particulars.