14. Mr. Gresham Cookeasked the Postmaster-General why there was no delivery of mail on the Sunday before Christmas, 1959, in the provinces; and whether, in the interests of efficient working, he will consider arranging for a delivery on the Sunday before Christmas in future years
§ Miss PikeA delivery of mail on the Sunday before Christmas is not justified everywhere when Christmas Day is on a Friday, as it was last year. But we intend to keep in mind the possible need for the Sunday delivery to be provided more widely in future years when Christmas Day falls on a Friday or Saturday; it is already the practice to give such a delivery when Christmas Day falls on any of the weekdays Monday to Thursday.
Mr. Gresham CookeI appreciate what my hon. Friend has said. Will she bear in mind that most people seem to post their Christmas cards the weekend before Christmas? Therefore, Monday is a very busy day in the Post Office and it would be desirable for deliveries to be cleared on the Sunday before the Monday before Christmas.