§ 21. Captain Pilkingtonasked the Postmaster-General what saving he expects to make by reducing the number of deliveries and collections on Saturday, dispensing with deliveries on Easter Monday, Whit Monday and August Bank Holiday, and closing nearly all post offices on Bank Holidays.
§ Mr. MarplesAbout £150,000 per annum.
§ Captain PilkingtonIs my right hon. Friend aware that these measures very seriously affect those places which are very crowded during the holiday seasons, when postal services are more, and not less, necessary? Will he look into this again?
§ Mr. MarplesI am afraid not, because the Priestley Royal Commission has made 397 two recommendations; first that the pay, and secondly, that the conditions, should be broadly comparable with those in outside industry. This measure was taken, not only for the saving of pay but also to bring conditions of postmen up to those of outside industry.
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsIs the Postmaster-General aware that this innovation will cause people great difficulty in periods of crisis, when they want to send telegrams? Can he indicate how he proposes to deal with that position?
§ Mr. MarplesThe Question on the Order Paper relates to the number of collections and deliveries on Saturdays and Bank Holidays, but this particular measure allows most postmen to go off duty on Saturdays two or three hours earlier. That facility exists in outside industry, and I should have thought that, on the whole, the House would have welcomed it.