HC Deb 15 December 1965 vol 722 cc1239-40
8. Mr. Howe

asked the Postmaster-General what progress he is making in his review of the present arrangements for postal delivery services in Birkenhead; and whether this will lead to the earlier delivery of morning mails and less delay for parcels posted to Birkenhead from other parts of the country.

33. Mr. Dell

asked the Postmaster-General what is the latest time at which the morning postal delivery should be completed in Birkenhead.

Mr. Joseph Slater

The review of the delivery arrangements in Birkenhead will take some time yet to complete. Its object is to ensure that the first letter delivery will be completed in all parts of the town by 9.30 a.m.—the standard finishing time in provincial towns—and where delivery is now later than this it will be made earlier. The review will have no effect on the time taken by parcels in the post but we are doing all we can in other ways to improve the parcel service.

Mr. Howe

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that setting a concluding time for morning deliveries as late as 9.30 falls far short of the declared aim of his right hon. Friend to meet the wishes of industry and commerce in these matters? Is he not further aware that there has been continuous protest from business and financial interests throughout Birkenhead at the lateness of morning deliveries? Can he give no better answer than the one he has just given?

Mr. Slater

We shall do what we can in the current reorganisation to give these places an early delivery, but it would be out of the question to give them all a delivery by 8.30. We have introduced certain schemes under which business firms which want to have their mail delivered earlier can rent a private box at the Post Office and anyone can call for his mail at 6.30.

Mr. Dell

When will the review which my hon. Friend is undertaking be completed? What advice can he give to private individuals about what they can do if they find the present delivery time unacceptable?

Mr. Slater

They can make representations through the Post Office Users Council. With regard to the review, there is a good deal of preliminary work to do on testing postmen's walks. There are 172 walks and about 40 of them have so far been tested. It will take some time to complete this, after which the conclusions must be accepted by the staff engaged in this work.