§ 11. Mr. Keelingasked the Assistant Postmaster-General whether he is aware that a Twickenham man decorated for gallantry was described by the Service Department as of Hounslow, that being his postal address, with the result that the Twickenham columns of the local newspapers ignored him; that there are many cases throughout the country in which a post town overlaps a borough, or vice versa, to the inconvenience of the residents and the detriment of civic solidarity; and whether he intends to correct these anomalies.
§ Mr. BurkeThe hon. Member kindly sent me an extract from a newspaper which explains the circumstances of the case to which he draws attention. The Post Office system of sorting correspondence is based on the use of "post-towns" on which the correspondence for delivery is concentrated, the selection of these towns being designed to ensure speedy delivery. The question of adjusting postal boundaries to coincide with municipal boundaries has been considered on many occasions, but it has been found impracticable to organise postal services on the basis of municipal areas without delay to the mail.
§ Mr. KeelingIs the hon. Gentleman aware that there is a serious grievance here? Has he not some policy over a 480 term of years for adjusting these anomalies?
§ Mr. BurkeThe policy is to provide post offices that will enable us to meet, as early and efficiently as possible, the requirements of the largest number of persons That may not coincide with local boundaries.