HC Deb 15 December 1965 vol 722 cc1244-6
24. Mr. Dudley Smith

asked the Postmaster-General if he will make a statement about his efforts to halt the deterioration in London's postal services.

93. Mr. Goodhart

asked the Postmaster-General what action he is taking to halt the deterioration in Greater London's postal services.

Mr. Benn

I gave details of the measures I was taking to the House on 3rd November in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Brentford and Chiswick (Mr. Dudley Smith). Since then recruiting has improved still further and the service given is comparable to that given this time last year.

Mr. Dudley Smith

Is the Postmaster-General aware that because of the cancellation of one of the daily deliveries and also because of the repeated lateness of some of the other services, the service generally—in the words of one of my hon. Friends—is worse than it was half-a-century ago? While his efforts to stimulate recruitment are appreciated, will he look at the whole delivery system anew to see whether a much-needed improvement can be brought about?

Mr. Benn

The changes which I announced in August about the ending of the third delivery were necessary on the grounds of finance and manpower. Since the hon. Member last asked, we have added eight postmen to the Chiswick Post Office. Vacancies in the London Postal Region inner area, which were 1,400 in May, are now only 972 and we have employed women and part-time workers. This is the product of an intensive campaign which has led and should lead to improvement.

Mr. Goodhart

Is the Postmaster-General aware that the deterioration in the postal services and the frustration caused by that deterioration is exacerbated by the deterioration in the telephone service? Is he aware that one of my constituents has just been told that it will take 18 months to install a new telephone, whereas it takes two days to install a new telephone in New York?

Mr. Benn

The Bell Telephone System invested more capital in its system in one year than the Conservative Party invested in the 13 years it was in power. This is a problem common to the whole community, and it causes great difficulty. We are all in a sense responsible for this neglect, but after neglecting investment in the telephone service for a very long time it is no good suddenly expecting that it can be put right in a matter of months, because it cannot.

Mr. Bryan

If recruiting in London has improved to a considerable extent, as I understand is the case, why is the service only as good as it was last year? Why has it not improved?

Mr. Benn

The problem of recruitment is not a new problem in London. The position deteriorated in the period between last year and now. We have sought to pull it back to the level of last year.