§ 2. Mr. Russellasked the Postmaster-General if, in order to overcome the unpredictable delay in the delivery of mails before Christmas every year, he will investigate the possiblity of providing separate posting boxes for greetings cards in future.
Dr. HillWhat my hon. Friend suggests would not ease the situation, unless all sorting and dispatching arrangements were also duplicated. To do this would create more problems than it would solve.
§ Mr. RussellIn the coming months, will my right hon. Friend investigate whether there is any other possible way of avoiding the difficulty? Is he aware that it is the unpredictable nature of it more than the actual delay which causes trouble, particularly to business firms?
Dr. HillFollowing what my predecessors have always done at this time of the year, we are reviewing Christmas experience, but, bearing in mind the immense burden on the Post Office at Christmas time—on the peak day a year ago 110 million letters and cards were posted—I hope the House will agree that in all the circumstances the Post Office staff, with its temporary help, does a magnificent job at Christmas.