§ MR. CHARLES DEVLIN (Galway)I beg to ask the Postmaster-General if he will state how often during the last fiscal year His Majesty's mails were despatched by steamers of German lines calling at Southampton to the United States; what was the total sum paid to such companies during that period for the carriage of the mails; and will he say whether British steamers were available for this purpose.
§ THE POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. SYDNEY BUXTON,) Tower Hamlets, PoplarDuring the last financial year there were six occasions on which German packets calling at Southampton on their voyage to the United States were used for the conveyance of British mails not consisting exclusively of specially addressed correspondence. No direct payment is made to the steamship company in such cases. The use of foreign packets is a matter for adjustment on the basis of periodical statistics with the Government which pays the subsidy. On the occasions in question no British steamers of sufficient speed were available-for the conveyance of the mails.
§ MR. CHARLES DEVLINIs no money paid?
§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTONThe liners are subsidised by the German Government and it is a matter of arrangement with the German Post Office.