§ Mr. LINDSAYasked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that letters conveyed by the down night mail from London are not due to be delivered in Belfast until about 12.30 p.m.; if he is aware that Belfast, with a population of over 400,000, is much the largest place in the United Kingdom where such letters do not fall into the earliest morning delivery; and if he will at once consider the possibility of establishing an air postal service between Great Britain and the North of Ireland?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHThe later hour at which letters conveyed by the down night mail from London are delivered at Belfast is due, as the hon. Member is no doubt aware, to daylight sailing of the night mail packet from Holyhead and the consequent diversion of the mails for Belfast to the Stranraer and Larne route. I hope that the pre-daylight sailing hours for the trains and boats on the Holyhead route will be resumed on the 1st December. Owing to its geographical situation there must always be difficulty in arranging that night mail letters from London should fall into the earliest delivery made at Belfast, unless, of course, that delivery is fixed at a late hour. The question of instituting some experimental air services for the conveyance of mails is at present under the consideration of the Air Ministry.