§ MR. BARRIE (Londonderry, N.)On behalf of the hon. Member for South Down, I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether in the event of the Limavady post office being placed under Derry, the salaries of any of the Derry officials would be increased; whether the Derry postal officials are supporting the proposed change; and whether he can state the receipts of the Limavady office for each of the past ten years.
§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTONI cannot say at present precisely to what extent, if any, the work, and consequently the salaries, at the Londonderry office might be ultimately affected by making Limavady subordinate to Londonderry. The Londonderry officials have not been consulted as to the change, which is in no way the result of any suggestion on their part. The existing staff at Limavady will retain their present scale unless they prefer transfer to another office. The postmaster's salary also remains the same. There has been some increase of work at the office during the last few years, but last year showed a falling off. As I have already stated the change will 1407 in no way impair the postal facilities of the district including the Scottish and English mails, but on the contrary, will increase the efficiency of the local service.