§ 61. Mr. MacKENZIE LIVINGSTONEasked the Postmaster-General whether he will give the names of the localities in the Highlands and Islands which now have fewer postal deliveries than before the War, and which districts are still without a daily delivery of letters?
§ The ASSISTANT POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Viscount Wolmer)The main postal services in the Highlands and Islands are on the same scale as before the War, and the more important districts have a daily delivery of letters. The information for which the hon. Member asks could not be compiled without a considerable amount of labour, which would hardly be warranted, but I shall be glad to consider any particular case he has in mind.
§ Mr. LIVINGSTONEWill the noble Lord say when he expects to get back to the pre-War standard of efficiency of his pre-War predecessor in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland?
§ Viscount WOLMERI do not like to prophesy.
§ Sir ROBERT HAMILTONMay I ask whether the answer applies to the County of Orkney, where it is admitted that the pre-War delivery service has not been restored?
§ Viscount WOLMERYes, Sir.
§ Mr. MACPHERSONWhen is it the intention of the Government to restore the pre-War service in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland?
§ Viscount WOLMERWe are improving the services as and when we can, but the right hon. Gentleman knows perfectly well that the financial limits of the time curb the Post Office and all 1369 other Government Departments. We cannot give the service we were able to give before the War at the same cost to the taxpayer.
§ Mr. LIVINGSTONEWhy not?
§ Viscount WOLMERBecause all the costs have enormously increased, and we are bound, by the limits of economy, to give only such service as we can afford.
§ Mr. MACPHERSONIs the Noble Lord aware that there was an enormous surplus on the Post Office last year, and that there are a great many places all over the country—not only in Scotland, but in England and Wales—where the postal facilities are not nearly as good as they were before the War?
§ Viscount WOLMERReally the right hon. Gentleman should address that question to the Chancellor of the Exchequer. If the postal surplus were not available to relieve taxation, then money would have to be taken from some other source.
§ Lieut.-Colonel Sir GODFREY DALRYMPLE-WHITEIs it not a fact that a claim has been put forward by the Post Office workers which would more than take the surplus?
§ Mr. HARDIEHave not the Department considered the question of making deliveries to these outlandish places by air service?
§ Viscount WOLMERThe service to these parts is already run at a heavy loss, and I am afraid the proposal of the hon. Member would only add to that loss.