§ MR. HARMSWORTH (Caithnessshire)To ask the Postmaster-General if he will state the times stipulated in the contracts with the London and North Western, the Caledonian, and the Highland Railways at which the Scotch mails leaving London at night are to be handed over at Carlisle, Perth, and Inverness, respectively; and if he will state the occasions during which these mails were late in being handed over, and the extent of the delays, from the 1st June, 1902, to the 31st October, 1902.
§ (Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain.) The down night mail trains from London for Scotland forwarded by the West Coast railways are due on week-days at 2.48 a.m. at Carlisle, at 5.54. a.m. at Perth, and 9.30 a.m. at Inverness. I am sorry to say that, owing mainly to the great increase in the quantity of the parcel mails conveyed, this train does not, especially during the summer season, keep good time, and that during the period referred to by the hon. Member it was late almost every day. Various alterations have from time to time been made in the service with the view of ensuring greater punctuality, but so far little improvement in this respect has been 289 effected. The matter is still under consideration, but I fear that the only effectual remedy will be to make a substantial reduction in the parcel mails forwarded by this train. The adoption of this course will to some extent affect the time of delivery of the parcels excluded, and the inquiries now in progress are being made to ascertain what parcels would sustain least delay in delivery if left behind for other trains. I have been relucant to authorise such an arrangement, but I think the punctual performance of the letter mail service should not suffer from the growth of the parcel mails.