§ 21. Mr. Crouchasked the Postmaster-General the normal time of delivery of a parcel posted in London to the West Country.
Dr. HillParcels posted in London in the afternoon should he delivered in most towns in the West Country on the next weekday but staff shortages, railway transport difficulties, and abnormally heavy postings cause delay from time to time. I can assure my hon. Friend that we are doing all we can to eliminate these delays.
§ Mr. CrouchIs my right hon. Friend aware that very recently a parcel was posted to my constituency containing drugs for a doctor, and that it took five days to get there? The Post Office apologised and said that the delay was owing to shortage of staff, and heavy parcel deliveries at that time of the year, and that this situation would be corrected as soon as possible. How soon will it be corrected?
Dr. HillI recognise that from time to time this sort of thing occurs. There have been substantial difficulties in London recently owing to congestion at Paddington and heavy postings. I am making a special study of the London position now, and I hope that we shall not have a recurrence of the kind of thing which my hon. Friend cites.
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsDo not West Country postmen sometimes go sick?
§ 22. Mr. Crouchasked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that parcels are not accepted at all post offices on Saturday for delivery on Monday; and if he will make a statement.
Dr. HillAt many country sub-offices the last collection on Saturday is made between about noon and 1 p.m. and parcels accepted at these offices after this collection cannot be sent forward the same day. I shall be glad to look into any particular case of difficulty which my hon. Friend may have in mind.
§ Mr. CrouchIn some post offices, the customer who goes in on Saturday at any time is told, "It is no use posting this parcel today, because no parcels go out from here on Saturdays. It will be held over until Monday." Should the post offices not accept parcels on Saturday, and dispatch them?
Dr. HillIt is right that the inquirer should be told, where it is the case, that there will not be a dispatch from that office on that day, but there is no question of a refusal to accept such parcels where the facts are made plain.
§ Mr. W. R. WilliamsI take it that this question of improving the parcel service —[HON. MEMBERS: "Question."] I am asking a Question—[HON. MEMBERS: "No."]. Speaker, in order to reassure the other "Speakers" there are in the House, I will repeat my Question. Will the Postmaster-General assure the House that any difficulties in connection with parcels will be examined not only by the Post Office but by the Post Office and the railways in conjunction?
Dr. HillMost certainly. There is, in fact, a working party of the Post Office and the railways now inquiring into some of the London dispatch problems.