HC Deb 23 July 1958 vol 592 cc396-7
12 and 13. Mr. Simmons

asked the Postmaster-General (1) if he is aware that owing to the postal address being an incorrect geographical description of areas in the area of the Tettenhall Urban District Council letters are frequently delayed considerably by being sent to Stafford or by being sent by the sorting office to the sub-sorting office at Tettenhall when addressed, Compton or The Wergs; and if he will have the sorting arrangements overhauled;

(2) if he will consider operating a central sorting office in conjunction with a Crown Post Office for Tettenhall, as failure to do so is causing a major departure from the expected standards of service to the public and resultant justified public complaint.

Mr. Marples

Correspondence which includes in the address the name of the post town, in this case, Wolverhampton, should not be delayed: I would therefore urge all the residents concerned to include the post town Wolverhampton in the postal address. A new delivery office in Wolverhampton which should be ready in about two years' time may give the opportunity for some simplification of the present arrangements and I will write to the hon. Member to give him further details.

Mr. Simmons

Does the Minister realise that there is serious delay in correspondence in this area and that Tettenhall is a town itself? It will not do him any good to dodge the issue, bearing in mind that this is a strong Tory area?

Mr. Marples

I am glad to hear that it is a strong Tory area, but the hon. Gentleman must realise that postal services are based on lines of communication, that is, the railways and road services, and the purpose of a postal address is to transmit and deliver corresspondence as quickly and efficiently as possible. Therefore, for postal purposes, the address should reflect the way in which the package should travel. It is not intended to reflect the geographical description of the area. It would help the post office a great deal if people when addressing their envelopes would bear in mind the way in which the package will travel.

Mr. Simmons

What about the Crown Post Office?

Mr. Marples

That is another Question, and I hope that the hon. Gentleman will put it on the Order Paper.