§ Sir PHILIP PILDITCHasked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that it requires twenty days for a letter to get to Holland and a reply to be received in this country, and that this state of affairs is seriously handicapping British industry in competition with the Germans, and if he will state that it shall at once be dealt with?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHThere are at present four dispatches of mails weekly in each direction between the United Kingdom and Holland, and additional dispatches will be made as soon as further steamers can be placed on the service. The correspondence is subject to censorship and some delay is consequently inevitable. Even with these restrictions, however, a letter and reply should normally occupy much less than the time suggested by the hon. Member; and if he will furnish me with concrete instances of delay I will have inquiry made.