HC Deb 05 May 1954 vol 527 cc342-3
3. Mr. Chetwynd

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the average time for air mail to reach naval personnel based in Japan.

Commander Noble

Air mail takes six days, on the average, to reach Tokyo. The further period required to get it to naval personnel depends on whether they are serving ashore in Japan, or in ships which may be either at Japanese ports, or at sea.

Mr. Chetwynd

Where ships are at sea, is the mail sent to them or is it held in the port until the ship returns? If it is sent to them, what is the average time taken?

Commander Noble

The time taken to get mail to the ships at sea of course varies, but every opportunity is taken to send mail by ships going to the area where the other ships are at sea. Great trouble is taken about it. If the hon. Member has any case in mind, I should be glad if he would let me know. When I was out in Korean waters in August people seemed very pleased with the air mail arrangements.

Mr, Chetwynd

Would the hon. and gallant Gentleman consider a fortnight or three weeks an abnormal length of time for letters to take to reach a man?

Commander Noble

I would say a fortnight would be an extreme case.