asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been recently drawn to the overcrowding that occurs on underground trains between the hours of 6.30 a.m. and 9 a.m., and 5.30 p.m. and 6.30 p.m., during which times many trains are so overcrowded that passengers find a difficulty in obtaining standing room on the platform between the carriages; and will he make representations to the board controlling this railway system with a view to securing more adequate accommodation for the travelling public?

I have recently been in communication with the London Passenger Transport Board, who inform me that the accommodation during the peak hours on their railways is the maximum possible in present circumstances, but that they have in hand schemes of railway improvements providing for more frequent trains of greater capacity upon certain of their lines where congestion is most acute. The board consider that, apart from this, the remedy must be in the staggering of working hours, or in other arrangements for spreading the peak traffics over longer periods.

Will these improvements cover the Elephant and Castle area and the rest of South London?

That is another matter.

Is the necessary reorganisation of working hours to be undertaken on the advice of the Government?

On 2nd June, when a question was asked on this matter, it was stated that any steps that employers could take to spread passenger traffic more evenly would gladly be considered.

Will the Minister say how that can affect people getting to work in the morning?