§ Colonel LOCKWOODasked the Postmaster-General whether he will consider the possibility of continuing the delivery of mails in the Isle of Mull as hitherto and without any break?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSESome months ago I was approached by the contractors for the various packet services to the Western Islands of Scotland, Messrs. McBrayne, who represented that as a consequence of the outbreak of War their earnings from passenger goods and traffic other than mail traffic had fallen off to such an extent that a considerable increase in their subsidies was necessary to enable them to continue to fulfil their contracts. As these services were already conducted at a cost wholly disproportionate to the volume of mail traffic concerned the Government felt that no increase of the subsidies could be justified on postal grounds, and that the only way of meeting the contractors was by reducing the amount of service rendered in return for the contract rate of subsidy. I regret that as a consequence of this decision it has been necessary to arrange for a reduction of the frequency of the postal service to Mull from six days to four days a week as from the 10th instant. If traffic in this way or any other of the routes affected should return to its normal condition I should be happy to consider the question of restoring the service as far as possible.
§ Mr. AINSWORTHasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the reductions lately introduced into the mail services in the West Highlands are causing inconvenience and loss and producing protests, and are specially inappropriate at the present moment when these districts are heavily called upon to provide recruits and other assistance to the State; and whether he can see his way to reverting to the former standard of service or, at any rate, to giving a less restricted service than at present?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSESome months ago I was approached by the contractors for the various packet services to the Western Islands of Scotland, Messrs. McBrayne, who represented that as a consequence of the outbreak of War their earnings from passenger goods and traffic other than mail traffic had fallen off to such an extent that a considerable increase in the subsidies was necessary to enable them to 1667W continue to fulfil their contracts. As these services were already conducted at a cost wholly disproportionate to the volume of mail traffic concerned, the Government felt that no increase of the subsidies could be justified on postal grounds, and that the only way of meeting the contractors was by reducing the amount of service rendered in return for the contract rate of subsidy. I regret that as a consequence of this decision it has been necessary to arrange for a reduction of the frequency of the postal service to Mull from six days to four days a week as from the 10th instant. If traffic in this or any other of the routes affected should return to its normal condition I should be happy to consider the question of restoring the service as far as possible.