HC Deb 14 May 1963 vol 677 cc1109-11
6. Mr. Stodart

asked the Postmaster-General what plans he is making to deliver the 220,000 sacks of mail which are at present carried each year by rail between Inverness and Kyle of Lochalsh, in view of the fact that that line has recommended for closure to passenger services.

Mr. Mawby

We cannot make firm plans until we know what alternative transport services will be available if the line is closed; but we have reviewed the position generaly and expect, in any event, to be able largely to maintain the present standards of postal services in this area.

Mr. Stodart

Does my hon. Friend realise that 220,000 sacks of mail per annum are, if one excludes the Sabbath day for delivery, the equivalent of roughly 700 sacks per day? Can he say how many lorries would be required to carry this quantity on road transport, and has he considered the state of the roads in the district to carry the traffic?

Mr. Mawby

I cannot make that calculation at this moment. We have taken into account that it will, obviously, require additional road vehicles, and we are bearing in mind the points which my hon. Friend makes.

Mr. Mason

Have the Government made a general appraisal of the effects of the Beeching proposals? If the Postmaster-General has done it for Scotland, has he done it for the rest of the country and determined what the effect will be on the postal and parcel services?

Mr. Mawby

We are in process of making a general review of the effects, but, as the hon. Gentleman knows, we have already, prior to Beeching, been making a number of inquiries. The East Anglian experiment is one designed to take account of changed conditions, and this was instituted before the Beeching Report was published.

Mr. John MacLeod

Can my hon. Friend say what sum of money is paid by the Post Office to the railway in this region of Scotland?

Mr. Mawby

Not without notice.

Mr. Ross

Quite apart from any experiment in East Anglia, an area which, I understand, has the advantage of some roads, what particular consideration has the Minister given to what will happen in Scotland? What will be the cost, what will be the number of lorries involved, and will there be the regular service which is available now?

Mr. Mawby

We do not expect the costs to be any higher for us in transporting by alternative methods.

Mr. Ross

What about the capital cost of providing roads?