§ 70. Mr. MacKENZIE LIVINGSTONEasked the Postmaster-General whether he can now make a further statement regarding the early restoration of the regular mail service to the Western Isles?
§ The ASSISTANT POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Viscount Wolmer)The Postmaster-General is in communication with the contractors, and I hope that the normal service will be restored at a very early date.
§ 71. Mr. LIVINGSTONEalso asked the Postmaster-General whether the Hebridean mail service contractors will receive payment of the full subsidy despite the present restriction of the service?
§ Viscount WOLMERIn view of the position in which the contractors were placed as a result of the coal shortage, it was considered reasonable to acquiesce in a temporary restriction of the services without a reduction in the normal payment. I should add that in spite of the increased cost of coal, the services were maintained in full until the 8th of this month.