§ MR. FRASER-MACKINTOSH (Inverness-shire)I beg to ask the Postmaster General if there be any rules as regards population or otherwise which guide the Post Office in dealing with outlying localities; whether he is aware that the Island of Tarrinsay in Harris, with a population of 60, dependent on the Post Office at Tarbert, and the Island of Heisker in North Uist, dependent on Lochmaddy, and with a population of 143, have neither of them any postal communication whatever: and whether he will take their isolated case into his consideration, with the view of granting them at least a weekly post?
§ MR. RAIKESIn reply to the hon. Member, I have to state that the question of establishing new posts must, in some degree, be determined by the consideration whether the expenditure bears a reasonable proportion to the revenue available. In the case of the two Islands named, I regret that no arrangement is practicable for affording postal communication, except at an outlay largely in excess of the revenue from the correspondence, which is small in amount; and I may add that even now the main service to Harris and North Uist entails a heavy loss to the revenue. At the same time, I shall be happy to again examine the question raised if any persons interested should be prepared to enter into a guarantee to meet the necessary increased expense.