§ Sir A. Wilsonasked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that much passenger rolling stock is still in use in which the bars across windows are not removable; and whether he will draw the attention of railway companies to the recommendations on this subject made in the report on the Gretna Green disaster of 22nd May, 1915 (Cmd. 8114)?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaI understand that non-removable bars are fitted across the drop lights of carriages on certain lines, mainly suburban, where, owing to the width of the stock and the small clearances available, passengers leaning out of the windows would be specially liable to174W sustain injury; across some of the lights of certain sleeping cars where, for example, passengers have to reach upper berths; and across the large fixed windows of corridor stock. In the first two cases I am advised that the provision of bars is likely to prevent a number of accidents, whereas conditions in which their presence might have an adverse effect are likely to be extremely rare. In the third case the presence of protecting bars across these large windows should not prevent egress in case of emergency. In the circumstances in which bars are now used, it is thought undesirable to have bars which could be removed by children or other passengers.