§ 11 and 15. Mr. Ewingasked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications (1) what percentage of casual postal staff employed over the Christmas pressure period this year will be students and what percentage will be from the unemployment register;
(2) how many casual postal staff the Post Office expects to employ over the Christmas pressure period this year; and how this figure compares with the same period over the past three years.
§ Sir J. EdenInformation is not available about the proportions of students and unemployed. It is, however, Post Office policy to give preference to persons on the unemployment register.
1312 The Post Office tells me that it expects to employ about 100,000 casual postal staff this year, which compares with 110,000 for 1971 and 134,000 for 1970. The figures for previous years are not available.
§ Mr. EwingThe Minister's reply brings out the facts that I want to highlight. The number of casual postal staff employed at Christmas time has been steadily declining over the years. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that even at this early stage of the Christmas period there is evidence that this year parcel traffic has increased by 10 per cent. and letter traffic by about 5 per cent.? Would the Minister like to pay a tribute to the full-time postal staff who carry this load and make sure that the Christmas traffic is delivered on time? Surely this would be a good opportunity to do so?
§ Sir J. EdenI welcome the opportunity to pay tribute to the immense effort involved in getting the bulk of mail and parcel deliveries to their destinations in time for Christmas. I am sure that every hon. Member will wish to join me in that tribute. The employment of casual staff has to have a direct correlation to the anticipated volume of traffic to be dealt with.