§ 89. Mr. LINFIELDasked the Postmaster-General if the attention of his Department has been called to the protests by the Ridgmont parish council and residents in the Woburn district of Bedfordshire to the serious delay, loss, and inconvenience caused during the past few months by the alteration by the postal authorities of the postal address from Ridgmont, Aspley Guise, Beds, to Ridgmont, Bletchley, Bucks; whether he is aware that traders in these districts are suffering loss through goods being addressed to Bletchley, which is some miles distant; and whether, in view of these difficulties, he will instruct that the original postal address be adverted to.
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThe alteration of address to which the hon. Member refers was made in May of last year, in connection with a general re-arrangement of the local postal services. If delay to correspondence is to be avoided, Bletchley must form part of the address. There is no reason, however, why Aspley Guise should not also be included, if desired. It is not necessary to mention the county.
1682 It is not always practicable to arrange that the head post office which serves a rural district shall hear the same name as the nearest railway station.
§ Mr. LINFIELDIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that great complaints arc being made of the delay caused by the alteration?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI can only say that the General Post Office has received only one complaint of delay in the last 11 months.