asked the Assistant Postmaster-General when he intends to reopen facilities for State life insurance business through the Post Office and, if not, on what grounds.

It is not proposed to restore the facilities for life insurance business through the Post Office, which were discontinued in 1929 mainly on the recommendation of a Select Committee on Esti- mates. The life insurance business transacted by the Post Office was always very small compared with the transactions of the insurance companies, and I do not think it is either necessary or desirable for the Post Office to re-enter this field.