asked the Minister of Transport whether excursion trains are to be run at cheap fares during the summer season?

In war-time precedence must be given to the movement of Government and other essential traffics and the maintenance as far as possible of ordinary passenger services. The Govern- ment, however, recognise the great importance of enabling workers to enjoy leisure and recreation, and it is intended to provide facilities at reduced fares so far as is compatible with the performance of the railways' primary duty. It is not yet possible to make any general announcement as to the arrangements which, subject to overriding requirements and the course of events, will be available for holiday travel during the summer months.

Does the Minister's answer imply that the prospect of excursion trains will be entirely ruled out?

No, Sir. I have said that it is hoped to provide facilities but it is not yet possible to make a definite announcement.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that parts of the East Lancashire road, Liverpool to Manchester, are being taken up for the purpose of carrying lighting to the air-raid shelters; and whether he will have inquiries made to see if arrangements could be made with local authorities who share in the road to have the lighting of the road done at the same time and thus make one operation complete the whole?

I am aware that cables have been laid for the purpose of lighting air-raid shelters on certain parts of the East Lancashire Road. In normal circumstances I should agree that all pipes and cables should, wherever possible, be laid at the same time; and I should have been prepared to make a grant to the responsible lighting authorities towards the installation of an adequate lighting system on this Trunk Road. In present circumstances, however, I do not consider that it would be proper to incur expenditure on the laying of cables for a lighting installation.

Is the Minister not aware that this is one of the best roads in the country and that it is constantly being taken up? Could not there be some co-ordination so that when any repairs have to be done everything can be done in one operation? A little co-ordination would help.

If I may say so, that appears to be the hon. Gentleman's same Question, to which I have given an answer. In peace-time I should have said, "Yes," but at the moment I do not think it is possible to incur the additional capital expenditure.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that great and unnecessary hardship is being caused to users of the suburban lines of the Southern Railway, by reason of the drastic reduction in the services; and whether he will make inquiries with a view to an improvement in such services?

Owing to the demands made on the railways for the carriage of Government and other essential traffics, including coal, the suburban services have had to be reduced, but the reduction has been made so far as possible during the slack periods. The position is constantly under observation by the railways, and the existing services are being augmented whenever this can be done without interfering with the carriage of essential traffics.

Will the Minister consider the possibility of increasing the average speed on the railways so that we may have more efficient service?

An increase in average speed on the railway would have repercussions on the amount of steel required for track maintenance.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that great hardship is caused to the travelling public of London through omnibuses, though not full, failing to stop at the official stopping places, particularly during the black-out; and whether he will make inquiries, with a view to this practice being stopped?

The London Passenger Transport Board have instructed their staff that buses must stop at all "compulsory" stops, and at "request" stops when there is accommodation available and passengers are waiting to be picked up. Any specific cases brought to the notice of the Board of refusal to stop in these circumstances are investigated and suitable action is taken.

If I provide the right hon. and gallant Gentleman with some instances will he take the matter up?

Certainly. I will take them up with the Board.

asked the Minister of Transport who are the persons who have seats reserved in London and North Eastern Railway trains during daytime?

From inquiries I have made it appears that seats have been reserved in London and North Eastern Railway trains for certain persons travelling on Government business with secret plans and documents. Accommodation is also reserved on occasion for mental patients, prisoners of war, military prisoners, and convicts and their escorts.

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that some of the mental cases, convict cases and other cases were actually Members of this House?

Does "M.P." stand for "Mental Patients"?

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will specify the principal war schemes of road improvement and new construction on which it is proposed to spend in the current financial year £500,000 in respect of trunk roads and £1,000,000 by way of grant to highway authorities?

The sums in question represent provision for schemes which may during the current financial year become essential on the grounds of war requirements or urgent public need. No substantial schemes falling into the latter category are at present in contemplation. As regards the former, my hon. Friend will appreciate that it would not be in the public interest to publish details.

What are the reasons which make the giving of particulars of these schemes against the public interest?

If we decide to spend money on a particular military road it would be a pity to let certain people know where it is.

But if the Government "pinch" so much of the public's money for such a purpose the public should have a right to know something about the highway.

asked the Minister of Transport when it is proposed to open for traffic the reconstructed Wandsworth Bridge over the River Thames; and what progress has been made with the acquisition of property for the construction of the adjoining southern approach road for which a Road Fund grant has been promised of an estimated amount of £269,000?

I expect that the new Wandsworth Bridge will be opened in August. All the property necessary for widening the southern approach road to 60 feet between the bridge and York Road has been acquired.

asked the Minister of Transport what has become of the railway carriages which were used on the "Silver Jubilee," the "Coronation," and the "Pullman" trains; and why only the oldest carriages are in use now?

All the main line stock, new as well as old, is at present in use except the special carriage sets used on the "Silver Jubilee," "Coronation," "Pullman" and other high-speed trains. These sets provide less seating accommodation than the ordinary sets, and in present conditions it is necessary to provide the maximum seating accommodation on the reduced services which are now being operated.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can state the average length of time passenger trains from Newcastle to King's Cross have been late during the last six weeks?

During the last six weeks, owing to the very heavy loading on this route, I regret that the trains have been, on an average, half an hour late in reaching King's Cross.

Is the Minister taking any steps to try and get the trains to run more to time?

The company hope to be able to improve the running of these trains. Nobody will know better than the hon. Gentleman that the trouble on this line is due to the special coal trains, and it would be a pity to make alterations to the time-table if there is reasonable hope of getting the trains back again to punctual running on the present schedule.

Can the right hon. and gallant Gentleman say where the special trains are going, because nobody knows?

asked the Minister of Transport whether the recent agreement guaranteeing the profits of railway companies relieves the directors from responsibility for looking after the convenience of the travelling public using long-distance passenger trains?

The control which I exercise through the Railway Executive Committee was taken in order that the railways should be operated in accordance with urgent national requirements in war-time. These, on different occasions and in varying degrees, inevitably interfere with the convenience of passengers. The financial arrangements between the Government and the railway companies have no effect upon the position.

Is the Minister aware that the reduction which was made in the number of trains has caused considerable inconvenience to the public? When shall we be able to get back to the ordinary schedule?

I regret the inconvenience, and I hope we shall be able to get back to the ordinary service when we can do without these numbers of special coal trains.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has any proposals to make for ensuring that compensation will be paid to persons injured by uninsured or non-stop drivers of motor vehicles?

As regards uninsured drivers, I regret that I am unable to add to the answer which I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend on 31st January. As I then pointed out, the legislation to implement the report of the committee on Compulsory Insurance presents great difficulties, and under existing conditions my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade and I cannot see our way to undertake it. The committee also considered the case of the non-stop and untraced driver, but did not think it practicable to recommend that the proposed Insurers' Central Fund should cover such cases.

In view of the fact that these innocent victims of aggression are still being unpaid, cannot the Minister confer with the Chancellor of the Exchequer and see whether he can get some money to go on with?