HC Deb 20 March 1957 vol 567 cc365-6
20. Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the Postmaster-General how many, and which, railway stations in Great Britain have no postal, as distinct from telegraph, facilities including the sale of letter cards, stamps, postal orders, &c., available for travellers and others; why the public are deprived of these facilities; and if he will take steps to rectify these omissions.

Mr. Marples

The information asked for in the first part of the hon. and learned Member's Question is not centrally available, but if he will let me know of any particular case he has in mind I will gladly look into it.

Mr. Hector Hughes

Does the Postmaster-General not realise that, although this is linked with the economy campaign, the absence of these facilities not only involves inconvenience to the public but loss of revenue to the Post Office? Would he look into that in some constructive way?

Mr. Marples

I cannot accept the assumptions underlying that supplementary question.

Sir P. Agnew

Before considering providing such facilities at railway stations, will my right hon. Friend undertake to equip all our rural villages with postal facilities, which is far more important?

Mr. Marples

There is a balance of advantage in any given case. If the hon. and learned Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Hector Hughes) and my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Worcestershire, South (Sir P. Agnew) will send me details of the cases they have in mind, I will look into them.

24. Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the Postmaster-General why the accommodation in King's Cross railway station which is now, and for six years past has been, used as a telegraph office, cannot be used for full postal facilities such as sale of letter cards and postal orders for travellers and other persons; and if he will now so reorganise that office as to provide these facilities.

Mr. Marples

As I told the hon. and learned Member in my letter of 13th March, we are getting into touch with the British Transport Commission about the possibility of providing facilities of the kind he mentions.

Mr. Hughes

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his letter was by no means satisfactory, that there is a good deal of space going to waste in this office, and that there is ample space to provide the public with the facility sought in the Question and to provide the Postmaster-General, incidentally. with more revenue?

Mr. Marples

I thought that my letter was eminently satisfactory. I am disappointed to learn that it was not so to the hon. and learned Member, because in King's Cross station there are stamp machines, a posting box, a telegraph office and a telephone kiosk and, 150 yards away, there is a branch office. In addition, I said that I would look into the matter and write to the British Transport Commission. I do not think that anyone could give the hon. and learned Member greater satisfaction than that.