asked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he will now restore the prewar late-fee posting facilities on Post Office carriages attached to mail trains, particularly the 7.20 p.m. Bristol-York express.

No, Sir. I regret that in view of the present manpower difficulties the restoration of late-fee posting facilities is not possible.

Is it not a fact that sorting staff are already on these coaches; consequently, what difficulties are there in restoring these facilities?

Our present policy is to raise the general level of the postal services throughout the country, and this would not further that policy.

I do not think that that quite answers my question. I am asking whether it is not a fact that sorting staff are already available to undertake this service.

Yes, Sir. They are available on the coaches, but they are not able to cope with and extra work.