Mr. SHIRLEY BENNasked the Postmaster-General if he will consider the advisability of affording to the public facilities for posting letters for the Continental mail in the night train at Charing Cross without the extra charge of 2d. per letter, and thus obviate the attendance of a Post Office official at the station, to clear the letter-box and to receive letters, before the departure of the train?
§ Captain NORTONThere are no facilities for dealing with mails on the Con-1612W tinental passenger train which leaves Charing Cross at 9.0 p.m. The Continental night mails, including letters posted with a late fee at Charing Cross Station, are conveyed by the mail train which is appointed to leave Cannon Street at 9.11 p.m. It is, therefore, necessary that a Post Office official should attend at Charing Cross to receive the late fee letters in question and convey them to Cannon Street. It is necessary to impose a fee in order to restrict the amount of correspondence posted at the latest possible hour to the quantity which it is then practicable to include in the proper dispatches. I regret that in these circumstances I am unable to adopt the hon. Member's suggestion.