asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the recommendations of the Stornoway Town Council and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, he will arrange for the reopening of the wireless station at Stornoway in order that it may be available in any emergency which may arise during the breakdown of the cable, which frequently happens?

There is no Post Office wireless station at Stornoway, and the expense of erecting and maintaining a station there for emergencies would not be warranted. The existing wireless station at Lochboisdale, with which Stornoway is connected by wire, is brought into use as quickly as possible when the cable between Stornoway and the mainland breaks down. The substitution of a station at Stornoway would offer no substantial advantage unless the further heavy cost of keeping the station permanently manned were incurred.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the question of saving human life arises in this matter?

That is true of all communications between any points, but the question that the hon. Gentleman asked me was whether I would reconsider opening the station, and I have said that I do not think it is warranted by the circumstances.