§ 34. Mr. Sorensenasked the Postmaster-General if it is his intention to modify the numbering of postal districts when the London Borough of Waltham Forest is fully established; and what action he intends to take in respect of postal confusion arising from similar road names both in the area of that new borough and of other new London boroughs.
§ Mr. MawbyNo, Sir; postal and local government boundaries do not necessarily coincide and we have no plans for altering the numbering of postal districts when the new Borough of Waltham Forest comes into being. I am not aware that similar road names are causing confusion at present; and we have no intention of making changes which would give rise to such confusion.
§ Mr. SorensenWould not the hon. Member look at this again? Is he aware that in the Waltham Forest area there are six or seven different postal regions? In those circumstances, would it not be better to try to make the postal regions co-terminous with the boundaries of the new borough? Is he not aware that both here and in other new boroughs there are roads with exactly the same names and that in spite of differences of postal designation, confusion arises? Should he not, therefore, take steps to try to avoid it?
§ Mr. MawbyOur main aim obviously is to give a good postal service at a reasonable cost. There will be many occasions on which the postal and local government boundaries do not coincide. We do not feel that it is necessary always to make them coincide when it would mean many people changing their addresses on envelopes without getting a better service as a result. If the hon. Member could give me the names of the streets which are confusing, I will certainly look at the point. He 224 asked my right hon. Friend last year to look at it He has done so, and this Answer is based on the further consideration which he gave to it, following the promise to the hon. Member.