asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that parcel post deliveries to and from Glasgow, even when additional payment is made for express delivery, are continuing to take from four to seven days, thus causing concern and loss of trade to business in Glasgow; and what steps he proposes to take as a matter of urgency to remedy this situation.

We are aware of, and very much regret, these delays. Action has been taken at Glasgow both at the post office and at the railway station which I hope will bring some improvement; and British Railways are working with us in a special drive to eliminate delays to these parcel mails while in transmit.

Will the hon. Gentleman say what is the nature of these steps, because the delays are still continuing? It is over three months since this matter was first drawn to his attention. Is he aware that business is lost to business houses in Glasgow through these admitted failures of the Post Offices? Will he take even more urgent steps than he appears to be taking at the moment to rectify the situation?

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his patience in this matter. We are taking steps to try to solve it. We have increased our staff in the Glasgow sorting office to make certain that we keep things moving there. With regard to the railways, a number of changes have been made in times of trains, and so on. We are definitely doing everything we can to speed up the solution of this problem because we can see that it is affecting the hon. Gentleman's constituents.

Despite the courtesy of the hon. Gentleman's reply, in order to ascertain what steps have been taken, I propose to raise this matter on the Adjournment at an early date.