HC Deb 12 April 1961 vol 638 cc228-9
21. Lieut.-Colonel Sir W. Bromley-Davenport

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that many post offices, at closing time or a short time earlier, turn out all lights and announce that the office is closed irrespective of the number of people waiting to be served; and whether he will give instructions that the outer doors of post offices be closed just before closing time to enable those people who are on the premises to be served and thus avoid discourtesy and disappointment.

The Assistant Postmaster-General (Miss Mervyn Pike)

It is the established practice to serve customers who are inside a post office at the advertised closing time. I am not aware of any departure from this practice but, if my hon. and gallant Friend will let me have details of any cases he has in mind, I shall be glad to look into the matter.

Mr. W. R. Williams

Will the hon. Lady reaffirm that she has no evidence of such practices obtaining in any of our post offices? That being so, will she be good enough to ask her hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Knutsford (Sir W. Bromley-Davenport) to give the in-formation required so that the case may be traced? If he cannot do so, will she ask him to apologise to the House and to the workers in the Post Office?

Miss Pike

I have no such evidence, but I am sure that my hon. and gallant Friend will provide me with it if he has it.

Sir W. Bromley-Davenport

Is my hon. Friend aware that the last thing I want to do is to get individual post offices into trouble? Is she further aware that the case I have in mind occurred within three miles of the House of Commons, and would she please issue a directive to the various post offices saying that, in future, customers waiting inside should be served after closing time? Is it not very hard on customers when they have been standing in queues for some time in order to be served?

Miss Pike

I am very grateful to my hon. and gallant Friend for the interest he takes in Post Office affairs. [Interruption.] I can assure him that we will do our best to make our service as efficient as possible.

Mr. W. R. Williams

I share the hon. and gallant Gentleman's enthusiasm for the Post Office, but would not the hon. Lady agree that it would be better if we had the evidence when the hon. and gallant Gentleman is making charges of a general character against many offices without having the courage to draw attention to a specific office?