§ Mr. HARDIEasked the Postmaster-General (1) whether the vans used for sorting purposes on the railways are hired by the Government from the railway companies; and whether the Government or the railway companies decided the number of vans to be used;
(2) if he can give the date on which a new mail van for post office work was supplied to the London Midland and Scottish Railway Company; the date and amount of the first payments by the Government and subsequent payments; and whether such payments included the cost of heating apparatus, lavatories, internal fittings, mail bag apparatus, and desks now being used, and if the payments include carriage of all mails dealt with in this van?
§ Viscount WOLMERAs I informed the hon. Member on the 16th of December, letter-sorting carriages are provided by the railway companies in accordance with the requirements of the Postal Service, and payment for their maintenance and use (including all necessary fittings) is covered by the comprehensive contracts made with the several companies for the conveyance of letter mails. The payment for mails dealt with in sorting carriages is included in the same contracts. The provision of new carriages, when necessary, is arranged in consultation between the Post Office and the railway company concerned; no new carriage has been required on the London Midland and Scottish Railway within the last 10 years.