60.
asked the Postmaster-General whether he will take measures to expedite the air-mail to and from the Forces serving in the Middle East and North Africa?
I would refer my hon. Friend to the full explanation of the position which was made by my hon. and gallant Friend the Financial Secretary to the War Office, during the Report stage of the Army Estimates on 17th March last. Airgraph and air letter services to the troops in North Africa were introduced on 5th March. In conjunction with the other Departments concerned, the Post Office will continue its endeavours to speed up all the services to and from our Forces in the Middle East and North Africa.
Is the hon. Gentleman aware that land mails and small parcels have taken more than three months to arrive in the Middle East, and would he do his best to accelerate that service?
We are doing all we can, but my hon. Friend will realise that, owing to the diversion of shipping and re-route-ing and so on, the position is very difficult.
Would the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the establishment of the Royal Air Force Transport Command provides an opportunity of getting some speeding-up of these mails, and will he have that discussed with the officer commanding that Command?