30. Mr. Gresham Cookeasked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the delays to letters posted in the London area, particularly those posted on 399 Fridays, he will engage more sorting staff to deal with peak loads.
§ Miss PikeThere is at present a shortage of postmen for sorting in the London area. Every effort is being made to improve the position and the recently announced pay increase for civil servants should help. If my hon. Friend will let me have details of any delays which have come to his notice I shall be glad to look into the matter to see whether some improvement can be effected.
Mr. Gresham CookeWill my hon. Friend bear in mind that when the present difficulties are mastered it should be possible to get back to the practice of posting a letter in London at 5.30 on a Friday evening to reach suburbs such as Twickenham by first post on Saturday morning?
§ Miss PikeWe accept that, whatever steps we take to make ourselves as efficient as possible, we must be eternally vigilant.