§ SIR JOHN SWINBURNE (Staffordshire, Lichfield)I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether by far the greater proportion of the loss to the Revenue of £254,000 per annum on the Foreign and Colonial Postal Services is due to the East and West Indian Packet Services; and whether, down to the year 1858, this portion of the loss to the Revenue was charged upon the Admiralty Vote?
§ *MR. RAIKESThe loss of £254,000 per annum, referred to in my recent answer to the hon. Member for Hudders-field, is upon the Colonial Packet Service only, not upon the Foreign and Colonial Postal Services combined. Of that loss £107,000 relates to the East and West Indian Packet Services. Prior to the year 1860–61, the whole cost of the Packet Service was charged to the Admiralty, and consequently any loss that was then incurred for sea conveyance fell upon the Admiralty.