Oral Answers to Questions — Roads – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 26 April 1948.
Mr John Haire
, Wycombe
12:00,
26 April 1948
asked the Minister of Transport if he is now in a position to announce a decision on the number of standing passengers to be permitted in buses.
Mr John Boyd-Carpenter
, Kingston upon Thames
asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement about increasing the maximum number of passengers permitted to stand in public road vehicles.
Mr Alfred Barnes
, East Ham South
Yes, Sir; in agreement with both sides of the industry I have made an order to authorise the carrying of not more than eight standing passengers, instead of five, during the peak traffic periods or in circumstances where undue hardship would be caused if the extra passengers were not carried. The order, which will come into force on Monday, 10th May, is being laid before the House today.
Mr John Haire
, Wycombe
Is my right hon. Friend aware that his answer will give very great satisfaction, but that he will give much greater satisfaction if he will do all he can to increase the number of buses, specially in the rural areas?
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
