asked the Postmaster-General whether, with the advent of double summer-time, he will consider making the final hour of the collection of letters at branch post offices and post-boxes in the London area somewhat later than 4.30 p.m.?

As has already been publicly announced, in accordance with our usual practice, summer postal services will come into operation in London on and from Monday, 29th March. As from that date the final collection will be made between 6 p.m. and 6.30 p.m. from posting points in the London sub-districts, at about 6.30 p.m. in the head district areas, and at 7 p.m. at the head district offices.

I am much obliged to my right hon. and gallant Friend.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will minimise the hardship certain to be caused by his decision to impose restrictions of time upon cheap night telephone calls by arranging that calls placed not later than 9 p.m. shall get the advantage of the reduced rate even though they are not completed before the end of the period within which cheap calls may be made?

Adoption of my hon. Friend's proposal would result in a heavy concentration of "last-minute" calls, which would be very difficult to handle promptly, and would result in the treatment of the calls being extended, as now, late into the night. I am sorry therefore that I cannot accept his suggestion which would in large measure defeat the object in view.

As the right hon. and gallant Gentleman is not able to accept my suggestion, what does he propose to do to ensure reasonable facilities for cheap telephone calls? Is he aware of the fact that sometimes there is such delay with these calls as to cover the whole of the three hours in which subscribers are to be allowed the opportunity of making these calls?

I should think it would be very unusual if there were such delay as that. What is going to be done is to reduce the existing hours to the hours which I gave in my reply last week, and that is being done partly in order to facilitate the staff getting home and partly as a contribution to the man-power problem, of which I gave figures last week.

But does the right hon. and gallant Gentleman recognise that the long delays on these calls must be accepted as some part of his responsibility, and that it is futile to advertise a cheap period if advantage cannot be taken of it?

If the hon. Member would have a word with me about the subject, it might clear up some of his difficulties.

May I ask whether the call must be effected within the period which is now prescribed? Can a call be put in an hour before the period expires and, if it does not come through until after the period has expired, can it be charged at the lower rate?

If the call is not completed by the time set, half-past nine, it is cancelled, or it can be completed at the full rates.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he can now make any relaxation of the Regulations so as to permit small parcels of cut flowers to be sent to hospitals by parcel post?

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is in a position to make a statement on the ban imposed on the transmission of flowers by post?

The ban on the transmission of flowers by post was imposed because it was found that, as a result of the prohibition by the Ministry of War Transport of their conveyance by rail, large quantities of flowers were being diverted to the postal service; and, as the mails are largely railborne, the result was systematic evasion of the Ministry of War Transport's Order. As the restrictions imposed by this Order are being suspended, I have decided to take similar action with regard to the ban on the transmission of flowers by post; it will not be re-imposed unless experience of the working of the new arrangements renders that necessary.

Is it not a fact that, only a week ago, when it must have been known to the Ministry of War Transport that the ban by railway was to be suspended, the right hon. and gallant Gentleman gave an answer in quite the reverse sense? Is not the whole matter rather footling?

If my hon. and gallant Friend will read the interchange of question and answer last week, he will see that my hon. Friend modified his first reply and indicated that I was considering this matter.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the delays that take place in the mail and cable services to West Africa; and whether he is taking steps to improve these services and to eliminate avoidable delays?

Until quite recently, owing to lack of aircraft capacity, the only means of transmission to West Africa was by surface transport which, as the hon. Member will appreciate, is subject to unavoidable delays incidental to war time conditions. I am happy however to say that since 5th March sufficient aircraft capacity has been made available to enable me to extend the air letter service to His Majesty's Forces serving in West Africa. I am informed that there is not normally delay in telegraphic transmission between this country and West Africa.

Has the attention of the Postmaster-General been called to the fact that letters to West Africa take sometimes from three to four months, air mail three weeks and the cable five days, while parcels do not seem to get there at all? Can he do anything about these matters?

I cannot accept all those figures offhand, but they sound like the sort of proportion of delay in the mails from West Africa in the past.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the Government have come to any decision regarding the establishment of an airgraph service to West Africa?

I have been advised by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War that the provision of technical facilities necessary for an airgraph service in West Africa would not at present be justified since, owing to the distribution of the troops in West Africa over a wide area, an airgraph service would be slower than the air letter service now available.