HC Deb 25 June 1901 vol 95 cc1409-10
MR. WEIR

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the

* The following is the Return alluded to:—

"Return for the year March, 1900, to the 31st day of March, 1901, of the Seizures in Scotland by Revenue Officers, and in Ireland by Royal Irish Constabulary, for Illicit Distillation, in the following form and Summary:—

District in which seizure occurred, townland, etc. Person charged with illicit distillation. Person or persons who discovered and reported. Rewards paid for discovery. Whether prosecution resulted. Result of trial.
SUMMARY.
Number of cases. Rewards paid.
Scotland
Ireland

Postmaster General, if he will state whether the house-to-house delivery of letters, authorised by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Budget for 1897, is now effected throughout England, Scotland, and Ireland; and will he state approximately the number of letters per annum estimated to have thus been brought into the official delivery, and which, under the arrangements existing prior to 1897, would have been left at post offices or places of call.

MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN

The house-to-house delivery of letters is now effected throughout England, and practically throughout Scotland and Ireland as well. There are a few places in the two latter countries at which it has not yet been possible to afford a delivery, but steps are being taken to provide a service in all cases where it is practicable to do so. From May, 1897, up to the end of September, 1900, it is estimated that about 57 millions of letters a year had been brought into the official delivery. Since that time it has not been considered necessary to keep a special record.

MR. WEIR

The hon. Gentleman has not answered the last part of my question.

MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN

Yes, I have answered that.

MR. WEIR

Then I beg to give notice—

MR. SPEAKER

Order, order! The hon. Member must give notice in the ordinary way.