§ Mr. Viantasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that troops in Malaya have been without mail for over seven weeks; that this is causing considerable dismay; and will he take steps to ensure a more frequent distribution and collection of mails.
§ Mr. LawsonI am not aware of any serious delays in the postal service to troops in Malaya, although some delay was inevitable for a short time after the Japanese surrender. Despatches of letters have been made daily as usual by air from this country to bases in India and Burma. Similar arrangements have obtained in the homeward direction. Any delays which occurred from India and Burma to Malaya were due to operational deployment and reorganisation taking place, though aircraft were used wherever possible. Since 11th September, however, the services have been stabilised by the provision of a daily air-link between Rangoon and Singapore.