§ Mr. MACPHERSON(by Private Notice): I beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he can communicate to the House any information regarding the steps he has taken to secure the safe and rapid delivery of letters and parcels, during the Christmas period, to the troops in the various theatres of war?
Mr. SAMUELThe number of parcels posted in the United Kingdom for the troops in France and Flanders on one day, December 13th, was about 500,000, and about 300,000 on each of the following days. The number of letters has varied between 1,000,000 and 1,500,000 a day. For the Mediterranean and Salonika Forces nearly 14,000 bags of letters and parcels were dispatched on November 25th. The total additional number of parcels sent to all the Forces during the Christmas season has been over 1,500,000. In order to cope with the Army mails at Christmas and subsequently, it has been necessary to erect a large temporary building in Regent's Park. The War Office have been good enough to give the Post Office very valuable assistance by the loan of a large number of motor lorries. Six special trains, and four special boats across the Channel, have been run daily to carry the Army mails. The large staff employed have worked with admirable industry, and all letters and parcels posted by the dates announced by the Post Office have been sent oversea, and it is anticipated that all will be delivered by Christmas Day.