§ DR. CLARK (Caithness)asked the Postmaster General, If he will give a Return showing the weight of the mails carried by the 7.50 a.m. down mail train from Perth to the Highlands; by the 7.40 a.m. mail from Perth to Aberdeen; or by the 10.10 a.m. mail train from Aberdeen to the North respectively; and. if he can now state the reason why the mails from Stornoway and Portree to Caithness and Orkney and Shetland are detained about 24. hours in Ding-wall?
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES) (Cambridge University)In reply to the first part of the Question, I shall be happy to furnish the hon. Member with an official Memorandum, which will afford him the information required. As regards the second Question, I should explain that in order to effect the earliest possible delivery of the mails from London, Edinburgh, and Glasgow, and the South generally at Wick and Thurso 1143 and intermediate towns, the mail train from Inverness has for the last two years been.accelerated, and now leaves Dingwall before the train from Strome Ferry arrives. To delay the former would, by delaying important correspondence, seriously inconvenience the mercantile community, at Wick and Thurso; while an acceleration of the latter train would involve expense, which would not at present be warranted. I should be very glad if any arrangement could be made to accelerate the last-mentioned train without additional expense.