asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that at the general post office, Londonderry, one counter clerk is expected to take in parcels, sell postage stamps, sell insurance stamps, accept documents for stamping, and sort and deliver private box and callers' letters; and, seeing that for one clerk to exercise these functions involves undue fatigue to him and delay to customers of the post office, will he take steps to remedy this state of affairs?

I am having inquiry made into the matter and will communicate with the hon. Member.

Is the hon. Member aware that the recent reductions in the Post Office have been condemned by the Chamber of Commerce, the local newspapers, and the representatives of the Post Office workers?

I will see that the points raised by the hon. Member are taken into consideration when the reply to the original question is prepared.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of letters addressed to the organizers of the Irish sweepstake on the Manchester November Handicap which were opened by the Post Office and the total amount of money which was returned to the senders?

9,031 letters addressed to the organisers of the sweepstake in question have been opened by the Post Office. The total amount of money returned to the senders is approximately £6,960.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the contracts for the extensions of telephone cables now being carried out between Belfast, Newtownards, Bangor, and adjoining places were put up to public competition; and what steps were taken to bring the matter to the notice of possible tenderers?

The contracts in question, which were for the laying of earthenware ducts, were put out to com- petitive tender among firms selected from the Department's list of eligible contractors.