§ Mr. PIRIEasked the Postmaster-General, with reference to the conveyance of mails between Paris and London, if he can now state what progress has been made in the communications he was making with the French Government as to the possibility of utilising to a greater extent the shorter routes between the two capitals, namely, viâ Newhaven and Dieppe, and viâ Folkestone and Boulogne, in place of the longest, viâ Dover and Calais; if he will state the position as regards the suggested ameliorations of the train service generally between London and Paris, both in the interests of the mail service and that of the travelling public; and if there is any hope of the evil use of the monopoly which the South-Eastern and Chatham Railway Companies have exercised for so long to the disadvantage of the public being either checked or coming to an end?
§ The POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Mr. Herbert Samuel)Negotiations in the matter of the mail service between London and Paris are still proceeding, and I regret that I am not at present in a position to make a statement on the subject.
§ Mr. PIRIEIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that this matter has been on for something like four years? He has himself admitted the urgency of the reform?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELAt this moment there are negotiations going on with the railway companies and with the French Government with regard to this mail service, and I cannot now say more.