HC Deb 24 January 1945 vol 407 cc806-7
30. Commander Sir Archibald Southby

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what steps have been taken to reorganise the naval mail service with a view to increasing its efficiency and expediting the transmission of mails to His Majesty's ships on foreign stations.

Mr. Alexander

The operation of the naval mail service is under constant review, and has been closely examined in detail in the light of experience gained in the landing on the Continent. As a result, special steps have been taken to strengthen the organisation to deal with the mail requirements which will be created by future operations.

Sir A. Southby

Is my right hon. Friend not aware that the mail service to ships is not so good as it ought to be because there is a failure in London to act on the report of changes of ships' addresses? Is there any reason why the mail service to the Navy, in view of its effect on morale, should not be at least as good as that for the Army?

Mr. Alexander

I think my hon. and gallant Friend, with his naval experience, knows that there are very great difficulties in the case of constantly-moving naval units, which do not always apply to the other Services. We do our best; but if I am asked to adopt in toto the Army scheme, I must say that the present naval man-power situation does not allow me to do it.

Sir A. Southby

Is it not a fact that the changes of address reported by ships are not acted on quickly enough in London, and that that is one of the causes of the delay?

Mr. Alexander

We are doing our best to deal with that by keeping in being the extra office set up for combined operations, and also by enlarging the staff, with the help of the Postmaster-General.

Vice-Admiral Taylor

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that complaints are made about the delivery of mail, not only to foreign stations, but also at home? Is he satisfied that there is adequate co-operation between the naval side and the Post Office side inside the Admiralty?

Mr. Alexander

I am satisfied that there is good co-operation, but I have never been satisfied that we have yet reached perfection. We will go on trying.