§ Mr. Grovesasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether, in view of the proposed ban on visits to certain areas, he will arrange with the various railway companies that notices will be clear and well displayed indicating the areas that are forbidden and, if possible, arrange to decline issue of tickets to banned areas?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerThe railways will continue to exhibit posters listing the areas to which visits for holidays, recreation or pleasure are forbidden by directions made by Regional Commissioners under Defence Regulation 16A. As my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary said in his statement on 30th March, access to particular places within the coastal belt to be declared a regulated area under Defence Regulation 13A may, for military reasons, be restricted or completely barred from time to time by the Military Authorities, without prior notice being given. It will not be possible to make any general public announcement as to the nature, place or time of any restrictions which may be imposed by the military. Advice on the position can only be given locally. The railway companies will not therefore be in a position to notify intending passengers. In any event they could not suspend the issue of tickets to such places, since they are not in a position to decide whether a particular visitor is properly entitled to travel to his destination or not.