§ MR. CRILLY (Mayo, N.)I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether, in view of the great inconvenience caused depositors iu the Post Office Savings Bank resident in Ireland by the delay in the withdrawal of money, and considering that such delay tends to drive would be depositors to the local trustee savings banks, he would consider whether it would be possible, in the interests both of the depositors and the Post Office, that the Irish section of the accounts should be kept at, and administered in connection with, the General Post Office, Dublin?
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. RAIKES, Cambridge University)There would, I fear, be practical difficulties in the way; but the hon. Member's suggestion shall be fully considered. I am glad to be able to re-assure him as to the present state of the deposits at the Government Savings Banks in Ireland. The average deposit per depositor is something double the amount per depositor in Scotland, and considerably more than the average amount standing in the name of any depositor in England, and while the deposits in the old trustee banks in Ireland have remained stationary during the last five years, those in the Government banks have increased by about a million of money, or about 42 per cent.