§ VISCOUNT EBRINGTON (Devon, Tavistock)asked the Postmaster General, Whether it is true that Parcel Post packages from South Africa, the British West Indies, and South America, though landed at Plymouth, are forwarded to London for distribution; whether Indian and Australian parcels, though sealed by the Custom House Authorities at Plymouth, are forwarded to London by the same steamer; whether, if these parcels were distributed from Plymouth, they would be delivered 24 to 48 hours earlier over the greater part of England; whether foreign parcels landed at Liverpool are distributed from there; and, if there is any good reason why the same system should not be pursued at Plymouth?
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES) (Cambridge University)I need not assure the noble Viscount that I am glad to do all that I reasonably can to render the Foreign and Colonial Parcel Post as popular and efficient as possible. But while there would, no doubt, be a certain gain of time in assorting some of the sea-borne parcels at Plymouth, the question is 1185 largely one of expense, which I have not hitherto seen my way to incur. The Indian and Australian steamers call at Plymouth on the homeward voyage only. Hence, as regards these lines, an establishment in duplicate would be required—one in London for the outward parcels, and one at Plymouth for the homeward parcels. There are other substantial objections to a change of practice at Plymouth, even as regards mails from the Cape and elsewhere. These do not prevail at Liverpool, where certain Colonial parcel mails are wholly dealt with. But I will examine the whole question further, and come to a decision at an early date.