London-Caracas Air Mail Service

HC Deb 20 May 1953 vol 515 cc2053-4

24. Mr. Marquand

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how long it takes an air mail letter, posted in London, to reach Caracas, Venezuela.

Mr. Gammans

Three to four days from the latest time of posting at London Chief Office.

Mr. Marquand

Is that the best performance or is it the average performance? Is the hon. Gentleman aware that information given to me suggests that British exporters are at a serious disadvantage in competing with United States exports in this valuable market because of the slowness of communications?

Mr. Gammans

I know there have been a number of complaints recently, but this is not entirely under our own control. These air mails go via New York, where they have to be handled by the American postal authorities, and therefore the extent to which we can hurry things up must necessarily be limited.