§ 20. Mr. F. M. Bennettasked the Postmaster-General what agreements are in force between his Department and the Sub-Postmasters Federation regarding the maximum number of sub-post offices to be authorised in a locality.
§ Mr. BennettEven if no formal agreements exist, can my right hon. Friend confirm that when he comes to a decision as to whether or not an additional local sub-post office is necessary, the only considerations that guide him are local consumer requirements? Or does he take into account restrictionist representations by neighbouring sub-post offices which do not want further competition?
Dr. HillI have given the answer "None", and I mean it. My primary concern is with the public facilities and the public convenience in the area, and I want to affirm that this is the prime consideration which affects me.
§ Mr. D. JonesIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that his arbitrary decision to space sub-post offices—particularly in new housing areas—at not less than a mile apart is causing a good deal of anxiety and dissatisfaction in very many parts of the country, particularly in my own constituency, where about 400 or 500 old-age pensioners have to cross a very busy main road in order to get to the sub-office?
Dr. HillI would assure the hon. Gentleman that there is no form of arbitrary rule for all areas relating to a distance of one mile. As many hon. 375 Members know, I receive, and sympathetically consider, proposals which mean distances between offices of less than a mile. I would say to him that I will consider sympathetically any set of circumstances that he brings to my notice. So far as a general rule is concerned, it has been the practice in the past to consider spacing at more frequent intervals than one mile apart to be impossible, but where there are aggregations of population or other special circumstances, no such rule applies and each case will be considered on its merits.