asked the Postmaster-General what action he is taking to improve the parcel service between Scotland and the South of England.

I am sorry that parcels between Scotland and the South of England have been delayed on occasions. The delays have been mainly cause by staff shortages at some of our key offices and we are meeting this by an intensive recruitment drive for postmen and by the employment of more women and part-timers. We are working with British Railways to see what more can be done to speed up the transit of parcel mails.