§ Sir R. Clarryasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport whether he can give any figures of the demand for reservations made by various Government Departments for railway sleeping accommodation on trains in this country also visits to the United States of America; and what steps he takes to satisfy himself that these journeys are really necessary?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerIn the first six months of this year, my Department reserved just over 78,000 sleeping berths. A small number, less than 2 per cent. of the total, were reserved for Members of Parliament. All the rest were reserved at the request of Government Departments. A Government Department which sponsors an application must satisfy itself that the journey is on urgent business of national importance and that it must necessarily be made at night. Applications for passage by sea must be similarly sponsored by the appropriate Government Department.