§ 40. Lord APSLEYasked the Postmaster-General if he will state the districts in the country which do not have a delivery of letters at least once every weekday?
Sir W. MITCHELL-TIOMSONThere are a number of isolated places in all parts of the country, more particularly in Scotland, Wales and the West of England, which have no daily delivery, e.g., The Shetlands, Orkneys, Hebrides, Scilly, Alderney, Sark and parts of Exmoor. A special return would be necessary to obtain a complete list of these places. This would involve considerable time and cost and under these circumstances I hope my noble Friend will not press for it.
§ Mr. J. BROWNIf the right hon. Gentleman receives information with respect to some places in Scotland, will he take steps to see that things are remedied?
§ Mr. LAMBIs the right hon. Gentleman hot aware that there are some places even in the Midlands where they do not get these deliveries?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONI can only say that applications for daily deliveries in these isolated parts are always sympathetically considered, and will be sympathetically considered, unless the cost is wholly disproportionate to the amount of correspondence.
§ Mr. BROWNWill the right hon. Gentleman say what "sympathy" means? I have made several applications, and, while I have had sympathetic answers, I have had no redress.
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONIn most cases the delivery is granted unless it is quite clear, on the facts, that the amount of correspondence dealt with is wholly disproportionate to the cost.
§ Mr. MONTAGUEDoes the right hon. Gentleman think that a private company would be more sympathetic in the matter?