HC Deb 25 June 1947 vol 439 cc430-2
43. Mr. Peter Freeman

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that letters posted in London before 6 p.m. are often not delivered in Newport until 36 hours later, although the train journey is less than three hours; and if he will take steps to see that delivery is effected by the first post following such collections.

Mr. Wilfred Paling

Letters posted in London in time for the 6–6.30 p.m. collection are due to be delivered in Newport (Mon.) by the first delivery on the following week-day. Unfortunately, there have been occasions recently when staffing difficulties in London have made it impracticable to maintain all due course connections and certain letters for Newport (Mon.) may have suffered delay; remedial measures have, however, been taken which I am confident will prove effective.

44. Mr. Peter Freeman

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that delivery of letters in Newport takes place between 7 and 8 a.m. and a second delivery about noon; and whether, during the present temporary restrictions, he will arrange for the second delivery in the afternoon instead.

Mr. Wilfred Paling

The postal services in Newport (Mon.) and in towns throughout the country have been modified in order to save manpower and to release staff for production. I regret that an afternoon delivery at Newport (Mon.) could only be arranged by drawing on the manpower which the Post Office has been asked to release for productive industry.

Mr. Freeman

Is my right hon. Friend aware that by having two deliveries in the morning, one following the other almost immediately, many letters which would otherwise reach their destination the same day are held over until the following day, and would he make arrangements so that there would be an afternoon as well as a morning delivery?

Mr. Paling

With our present manpower position I do not think it is possible to do that. We have arranged the second delivery so that business men receive their letters in time to reply to them the same day.

Mr. Keeling

Does not the first reply of the right hon. Gentleman flatly contradict the assurance of the Assistant Postmaster-General a few days ago that letters posted before 6.30 p.m. in London are delivered all over the country next morning except in remote spots like Penzance and Thurso?

Mr. Paling

I think that question refers to the previous Question.

Mr. Keeling

Yes.

Mr. Paling

I said that this particular trouble in Newport has been due to certain difficulties and that we had tried to alter them. I think we have done that.

Mr. Randall

Would not the Postmaster-General agree that if the request in this Question was acceded to, and there was more call upon labour throughout the country, it would mean the employment of part-time labour and split attendances for the staff; and would not he agree that most of the members of the staff in my hon. Friend's constituency would object to that sort of thing?

Mr. Peter Thorneycroft

Why is Newport singled out for this peculiar treatment when there are many thousands of people unemployed in South Wales?

Mr. Paling

Newport is not singled out for treatment as suggested in that question, which relates to the Question I answered previously. As I said, difficulties in Newport were particular difficulties which arose from a certain line of action. We have dealt with that.

Sir Henry Morris-Jones

Could the right hon. Gentleman explain why a London newspaper is delivered in Wales every morning punctually whereas a letter frequently takes two days?

Mr. Paling

No, I cannot tell the hon. Member why on information like that. If he will give me the full information and let me have the dates, I will deal with the matter.

Mr. Martin Lindsay

Does not the Postmaster-General recognise that during the past few months there has been a grave deterioration in postal delivery services not only in Newport, but all over the country?

Mr. Paling

What I do realise is that owing to the changes made and the restrictions in services, there has had to be a certain re-allocation of men, in particular on new duties, and it has taken these men some time to "bed down" and get used to their new routine.

Lieut.-Cammander Braithwaite rose

—

Mr. Speaker

We have been on this Question long enough. Mr. Osborne.