§ 18. Mr. Bowlesasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has any statement to make upon the delay in sending mails to a naval party established in a place of which details have been supplied to him by the hon. Member for Nuneaton.
§ The First Lord of the Admiralty (Mr. A. V. Alexander)No opportunity of getting mails to this party is lost and the difficulties to which my hon. Friend has drawn attention are due solely to operational reasons which cannot, of course, be made public.
§ Mr. BowlesCan the right hon. Gentleman give the House any assurance that the arrangements may be better in the future?
§ Mr. AlexanderI am quite certain that every step will be taken. Perhaps I could have a word with my hon. Friend about it.
§ 19. Captain Bullockasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that there is a considerable delay both in outgoing and incoming mails to and from personnel serving on landing craft operations between France and England; and whether he will arrange for a quicker service both for letters and parcels in the near future.
§ Mr. AlexanderYes, Sir, I am well aware of this delay. As I informed my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Loughborough (Major Kimball) on 18th July, energetic action has been taken by the Admiralty and the General Post Office, and I am glad to say that the results are already apparent in a considerable speed-up of deliveries and a reduction of arrears. The Admiralty fully realises the great importance to welfare of a prompt and efficient mail service and is watching 748 the situation closely to see that everything possible is done to secure further improvements.