§ MR. HARMSWORTHTo ask the Postmaster-General if he will state on what occasions, between 1st June and 31st October, 1903, the down night mails from London to Scotland by the West Coast Railways were late in being delivered at Carlisle, Perth, and Inverness, and the extent of the delays at these places respectively.
(Answered by Lord Stanley.) Between the 1st June and 31st October, 1903(153 days), the down night mail train to Scotland by the West Coast Railways was more than fifteen minutes late in arriving at Carlisle on fifty-three days, at Perth on 130 days, and at Inverness on 115 days. The average lateness was at Carlisle fourteen minutes, at Perth twenty-seven minutes, and at Inverness thirty-four minutes. The railway companies have had some special difficulties to meet this year, especially in the tourist season, but, after making all due allowance for this, the working of the service cannot be regarded as satisfactory, although it shows improvement as compared with previous years. Frequent representations on the subject have been made to the companies concerned.