§ Sir R. HAMILTONasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the wireless station at Lerwick is in a bad state of repair,; whether it is intended to maintain this station for meteorological purposes only; and, seeing that such purposes could be equally well served by the station at Wick, will he have the station at Lerwick closed?
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Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe wireless station at Lerwick was taken over from the Admiralty by the Post Office at the termination of the War in order that it might be available for maintaining communication with the mainland during interruptions of the Shetlands cable. It was subsequently transferred to the Air Ministry, who desired to use it as a meteorological station, but the right is reserved to take it over for Post Office purposes when the cable is interrupted. I understand that the purposes for which a meteorological station is required at Lerwick would not be served by a station at Wick. Repairs at the Lerwick station have recently been carried out by the Air Ministry.