§ DR. CLARK (Caithness)asked the Postmaster General, Whether it is the case that the mail steamers from Portree and Stornoway generally arrive at Strome about 9.30 a.m.; that the mail train leaves at 11 o'clock, arriving in Dingwall 40 minutes after the North mail has left, and hence the mails are detained at Dingwall for nearly 24 hours; that the mail train from Strome 258 to Dingwall is a very slow train, taking two hours and 30 minutes for a distance of 53 miles; and, whether he will either arrange for the train to start earlier, or to increase the speed of the train?
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES) (Cambridge University)The facts are substantially as set forth in the hon. Member's Question, except, perhaps, that the steamer from Stornoway frequently arrives at Strome Ferry before 9.30 a.m. I shall be very glad if I can arrange with the Railway Company for an acceleration of the train from Strome Ferry, as I have already stated to the House, without incurring an expense which circumstances do not warrant.
§ DR. CLARKasked, if the right hon. Gentleman had no power under the contract to compel the Railway Company to increase the speed of the train from about 15 to 30 miles an hour?
§ MR. RAIKESsaid, he was afraid he had no power to enforce any such acceleration on the Railway Company under the contract.