Captain Noel-Bakerasked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he is aware that air-mail letters from the United 274W Kingdom take an average of 20 days to reach the Belgian Congo, whereas letters from Belgium normally arrive in one week; and whether he will take steps to improve this service.
§ Mr. Burke:There is no direct British air service to the Belgian Congo and air mails for the Belgian Congo from this country are conveyed to Accra and thence in two stages by separate air services. These three services operate to different frequencies, with some consequent delay at the transfer points en route. The time of transit between this country and Leopoldville normally varies from eight to 14 days, and if my hon. and gallant Friend will let me have details of any air mail letters which have taken as long as 20 days I shall be glad to have inquiry made There is a direct air service from Belgium to the Belgian Congo, and arrangements are already in hand to make that route also available this week for air mail correspondence from this country at an appropriately higher air postage rate.