§ Mr. P. COLLINSasked the Postmaster-General (1) whether he is aware that the Post. Office at Walsall, constructed 30 years ago when the population was 50,000, is still made to serve a population of 100,000, with the result that there is great congestion and public inconvenience; and whether he will provide in the Estimates for the current year for adequate postal facilities to meet public requirements;
(2) whether, in view of the present inadequate postal facilities at Walsall owing to the congestion due to the smallness of the post office premises, he is aware that it is impossible to deal with and despatch the mails and parcels at the proper times; and whether he will cause such extensions of hours of opening as will remedy this public inconvenience and loss to trade and business?
§ Mr. HARTSHORNThe need for improved accommodation for the head post office at Walsall is recognised, and provision is being made in the Revenue Buildings Estimates for 1924–25 in order that the erection of a new Post Office may be: begun in the coming financial year. I cannot find any ground for keeping the post office open after 7 p.m., which is the1350W normal hour at similar offices. I propose, however, to increase the number of automatic stamp-selling machines supplied at Walsall.