§ Mr. Hewlettasked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the continued complaints of abnormal delay and even of non-delivery of parcels sent from this country to His Majesty's Forces in India and Italy, he will take immediate measures by which improvements can be effected.
§ Mr. A. HendersonHaving regard to the large number of parcels dispatched to troops in Italy and India relatively few complaints are received. Parcel mails are shipped to India and Italy by every opportunity. The transmission from this country to the Base at Bombay averages 51 days, and to the Base Army Post Office in Italy the average is 27 days. I am afraid I cannot hold out any hope of an improvement on those times. I am satisfied that parcels are distributed from the Base to the addressees as rapidly as circumstances allow. If my hon. Friend will forward me full particulars of specific complaints of abnormal delay or non-delivery, I will have them investigated.