§ Mr. Owenasked the Postmaster-General what plans are being prepared for the transfer of postal mail from rail to road transport; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MawbyIn collaboration with British Railways we shall shortly be introducing an experimental reorganisation of the arrangements for carrying parcel mails in East Anglia which we believe will improve the reliability of the service 19W and reduce our costs. The mails will be concentrated on suitable centres and greater use made of road transport for their conveyance especially over the shorter distances. Extension of this experimental reorganisation to the rest of the country—if as we expect it is successful—and changes in the shape of British Railways will involve further transfer of mails from rail to road. It is too early yet to say what this will amount to, but we expect that the great bulk of the mails will continue to be carried by rail.