HC Deb 18 March 1942 vol 378 c1535W
Mr. Sorensen

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he is aware that numbers of working people are inconvenienced and lose time by not being able to travel at workmen's fares in London Transport omnibuses; and whether he will take action to remove the existing distinction respecting workmen's fares between petrol and trolley-buses?

Mr. Noel-Baker

The extension of workmen's tickets to London Transport omnibuses would tend to divert to those omnibuses, traffic now carried by other forms of transport. The Board are not in a position to meet the demand for additional omnibuses and staff which would in these circumstances arise. There are, moreover, serious objections to any step which would result in increasing the consumption of motor fuel and tyres. For these reasons, I regret that I do not feel able to take the action which my hon. Friend suggests.