10. Mr. Baldwinasked the Assistant Postmaster-General why he proposes to withdraw the second delivery of letters at it 11 a.m. in the Lyonshall Kington, Herefordshire, district, seeing that this service was in operation both prewar and during the war period.
§ The Assistant Postmaster-General (Mr. Burke)As from the 30th June an afternoon delivery beginning about 2.30 p.m. has been restored in the Lyonshall area. A house to house delivery has never been made in this area at 11 a.m., but I presume the hon. Member refers to the morning caller's delivery, which was introduced as a wartime measure and has now, on the introduction of the afternoon delivery, been withdrawn.
§ 14. Mr. Henry Straussasked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he will give an assurance that the hours of collection and delivery of letters will be determined solely by the convenience of the public.
§ Mr. BurkeMy noble Friend's policy is, with due regard to the wider interests of the community, to strike a fair balance between the convenience of the public and the interests of the postal staff.
§ Mr. StraussIs there not a very obvious distinction between the question of hours and wages, on which the union is very properly consulted, and the question of what facilities should or should not be given to the public, on which the public alone and the Government are concerned?