§ MR. C. BILL (Staffordshire, Leek)I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether he is aware of the inconvenience caused to the whole community of Gibraltar by the very unsatisfactory arrangements made for the transit of the English mails through Spain; and, whether, considering the large amount of correspondence involved, amounting in the case of letters only to about 10,000 a week, he will take steps to secure from the Spanish Postal Authorities a more rapid and regular forwarding of the mails.
§ MR. ARNOLD MORLEYSo long ago as June 1893 a letter was addressed 1152 to the Spanish Post Office calling attention to the defective communication between this country and Gibraltar by railway through Spain, and since that time the British Post Office has done its best to induce the Spanish Postal Administration to bring about an improvement in the service, but I regret to say without success. The hon. Member is doubtless aware that I have no power to enforce alterations of postal services in foreign countries; but this matter shall not be lost sight of, and I will not fail to take advantage of the first favourable opportunity to again urge an improvement.