HC Deb 15 July 1959 vol 609 cc387-9
16 Mr. Janner

asked the Postmaster-General (1) whether he will give his consent for a sub-post office to be opened on the Mowmacre Hill Estate, Leicester, in view of the fact that old-age pensioners are being forced to walk down and return up a steep hill in order to collect their pensions with the consequent accidents and ill effects on their health;

(2) whether he will revise the regulation which militates against the opening of a new sub-post office within one mile of an existing office so as to make it clear that it shall not apply when there is hilly ground to be traversed by members of the public, and in particular by old-age pensioners, in consequence of the serious hardship caused in many cases by the close adherence which exists to the regulation;

(3) if he is aware that old-age pensioners are suffering from accidents and ill health by reason of the excessive distances they have to walk to post offices to draw their pensions; and if he will take powers to enable him to pay compensation for such accidents attributable to his refusal to open sufficient new sub-post offices to obviate these dangers.

Mr. Marples

With permission, I will answer Questions Nos. 16, 17 and 18 together.

I am looking into the particular case the hon. Member mentions, and will write to him. In the meantime, I can assure him that in deciding whether a new post office can be justified, we do take into account the points he makes. I am afraid that I could not accept responsibility for any accidents that might happen to people on their way to and from post offices.

Mr. Janner

May I seek your advice on this matter, Mr. Speaker? I have asked the Minister three Questions which are distinct from each other. The first was a local Question, the second a general Question, and the third referred to compensation. It is extremely difficult for me to ask supplementary questions, unless they are very lengthy, in respect of three such Questions which have no direct connection with each other. I should like to know whether I may be entitled to ask supplementary questions on each Question.

Mr. Speaker

The effect of the right hon. Gentleman's Answer was to say that he did not know anything about the situation and was making inquiries. That was the basis of his Answer, which seemed to be of general application. The hon. Member may ask a supplementary question if he wishes to, so long as he does not choose to turn it into a point of order instead.

Mr. Janner

I accept your Ruling with a little reluctance, Mr. Speaker. I want to put three supplementary questions First, with regard to the first Question, in which I have asked specifically about a subject with which the Minister should be fully acquainted, because there has been a considerable amount of correspondence about it, is he aware that there are 150 old-age pensioners on the Mowmacre Hill Estate who have to go down a very long, steep hill?

Mr. Ellis Smith

In Leicester?

Mr. Janner

In Leicester. From the point of view of old-age pensioners, may I ask the Minister if he is aware that there have been a number of accidents, and that for a considerable time an application has been made for a sub-post office? Is he further aware that there is considerable dissatisfaction about the matter, and will he go into it and see that a post office is provided as speedily as possible? With regard to—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."]

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member has had an Answer to his first Question, namely, that the Postmaster-General is making inquiries and will write to him when they are completed. I think that is reasonable. On the second point, it seems to me that in his supplementary question the hon. Member covered all his points.

Mr. Janner rose

——

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Gentleman has had an Answer, and I think that ought to satisfy him.

Mr. Janner

This is a matter in which there is a question of regulations for the whole country, and I have asked a Question of the Postmaster-General. I want to know from him what he proposes to do with regard to the whole matter in respect of the regulation——

Sir A. V. Harvey

Raise it on the Adjournment.

Mr. Janner

—and whether he is prepared to compensate people who, owing to disabilities, suffer from accidents?

Mr. Speaker

The Minister has answered that last part already.

Mr. Marples

All I can say is that we are making further inquiries on the spot, and I will write to the hon. Gentleman after we have had the inquiry on the spot. The point is that pensioners can always get someone else to collect their pensions for them if they so desire.

Mr. Janner

In view of the totally unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I propose to raise this matter on the Motion for the Adjournment.