HC Deb 15 August 1901 vol 99 cc948-9
MR. O'DOHERTY

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether any rearrangement of the North Donegal (East Innishowen District) postal service has been made, or is in contemplation, consequent upon the extension of the Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway to Carndonagh and, if so, can he state what the arrangement is; and whether before entering into any new contract for the conveying of the mails by car, tenders will be invited publicly from car owners resident in the district.

I beg also to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether representations have been received by the Post Office authorities on behalf of the inhabitants of Malin Head district, county of Donegal, requesting him to extend the existing mail car service to that district by arranging for a Sunday service; whether, seeing that the Buncrana and Carndonagh Railway extension is now open to traffic, the mail car service from Derry to Carndonagh will be discontinued and the mails carried in future by the railway, and whether, in placing the new contract for a mail car service from Carndonagh to Malin Head, the Postmaster General will arrange for a Sunday service.

MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN

The Postmaster General will cause inquiry to be made respecting the postal service to Carndonagh, Malin Head, and the East Innishowen District (North Donegal), and an answer shall be sent to the hon. Member as soon as possible on the various matters to which he refers.

MR. O'DOHERTY

Can the hon. Gentleman give me an assurance that if this car service is rearranged tenders will be publicly invited from local car owners?

MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN

I understood the hon. Member to ask for the abolition of the car service.

MR. O'DOHERTY

Oh, no.

MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN

Well, the Postmaster General will inquire into the whole matter.